Traffic jam
Thanks are due to Mr. Muffazel Hossain who wrote an article of substance describing the ills of Dhaka's traffic in DS of 26 March 2009. The options he has highlighted are constructive and feasible and should make a difference on Dhaka's road very quickly, if implemented. A few more options that could be considered are:
1. Bank loans for purchase of private cars should be discouraged. Major companies should reduce their expenses by having pick up and drop facilities through micro-bus. Encouraging employees to live within walking distance of offices should be rewarded. If at all, younger staff members may be given cycle, motorcycle loans on easy terms.
2. Plying of empty cars/half-empty private cars on main/trunk roads be subject to fines during certain peak hours.
3. Parking on any public road between 8:am-8:pm on working days should be fined heavily.
4. CNGs should be fined heavily for refusal to take passengers on meter.
5. If parking on the roads is controlled, one lane on the left side of every road can be free for rickshaw traffic to cater to about 50% of Dhaka's population. Rickshaws should be re-designed to lower their gravity point and powered by battery, solar power or small engines as quickly as possible. Some models are already on the road and working fine.
6. Fitness test, driver's licences, tax tokens and TIN registration must be rigorously checked to stop corruption at BRTA.
I have said it before and reiterate again that the rapidly inflating egos of our privileged class is the main reason for traffic jams and it is people like my old 'friend' Mr Rahat and Mr Lutfur Rahman (DS 27 and 20 March respectively) who constantly ask for the total banishment of rickshaws from Dhaka's roads. Have they ever seen a single rickshaw in any of the pictures on gridlock that have appeared in dailies so often?
It seems that all the facts and figures that I have given in my previous 36 letters on the subject have fallen on deaf ears. It is opportune that in this time of great economic peril, when even the motor car giants everywhere are going out with begging bowls, that those privileged amongst us set aside their own aims and conveniences and look for common grounds so that all the 15 crore people of our country are given the chance to earn an honest livelihood to maintain themselves and their families.
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