Dhaka is the 19th Mega City of the world with more than 10 million population. The popular density in the city is highest in the world. The sewerage system, transportation, housing, traffic system etc, in the city are problematic. Thus, city dwellers are facing a lot of problems in their everyday life. Among many other problems, traffic congestion is acute on which result into waste of time and money. The reasons responsible for traffic congestion include absence of mass bus transit system, abundance of slow moving rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, lack of sufficient road space, inefficient traffic management and lack of required traffic rules and even improper implementation of traffic rules.
However, some recent government initiatives like ban of polythene, two stroke three wheelers, old buses etc, and provocation for company based transportation system etc, have brought positive changes in the city. Air-conditioned buses and other luxurious buses are playing in the city Taxi Cab and CNG auto-rickshaws are two new developments in city’s transportation system.
The city of Dhaka can be broadly divided into two parts.
- The old city at the south and
- The new city to the north.
The old city is highly congested area with numerous house and narrow roads. Although the old city constitutes a small part of Dhaka, a major part of the total population lives in this area. Hundreds of factories are also located in this part of the city, and most of the wholesale markets and shops are there. Although most of the streets in the old city are used for traffic, they are, in fact, 50 feet narrow road that cannot satisfy the requirement of one-way flow. As a result during peak hours, traffic in this part of the city frequently comes to a standstill. The situation cannot be improved by widening existing road as this require resettlement of thousands of households., business centers and factories.
New Dhaka has comparatively wider roads and though limitedly, comparatively betters intersections. The population density in this part of the city is much lower than in old Dhaka. However, although the number the motorized vehicles in Dhaka is quite high compared to many other cities in the region, like Bangkok, Jakarta of Manila. The traffic problems in the new part are also serious. This is primarily due to the unregulated mixture of high volume of non-motorized traffic with other motorized vehicles.
Gulistan is the center of Dhaka. The largest commercial area Motijheel is located adjacent to Gulistan, as is the main railway station at Kamalapur. Most of the government office and private enterprises are also located in this part of the city.
Consequently, most of the major roads in the city lead to this area. As a result the most serious traffic congestion locations are situated in the areas in and around Gulistan or within a few kilometers from it.
During last twenty-seven years the city of Dhaka grown from a neglected provincial capital to prestigious national capital of the country. The population of the city during the same period has increased to 70 million (1971) to 150 million by now. But the transport of Dhaka city is not increase such way.
Causes of traffic Problem: -
Uncheck and rapid urban migration is the cause of the traffic problem in Dhaka city. Because the migrating people taking shelter road sides, footpaths, playground, recreational sports stadiums, railway station etc. In this way they create traffic problem.
For any modem city, roads should occupy at least 20 to 30 percent of the total land area. But in the Dhaka city, it is hardly occupy 8 percent. It is also the cause of traffic problem in Dhaka city.
Against the 2231 kilometers road length, Dhaka city has pavement footpaths for 220 kilometers only. It is create traffic problem.
Increased population in the Dhaka city in the main cause of traffic problem. In the Year 1974 the population of the capital city was 1680000.
As of now the Dhaka city population is estimated between 115,00,000 to 117,00,000. Increased population means increased demand for transports and other community services. In this way create traffic problem.
Nowhere in any big cities of the world, there is co-existence of the slow moving and fast moving vehicles on the same road as is seen in Dhaka city. It is also the main cause of traffic problem in Dhaka city.
There is prevalence of roadside hawkers and the poor, of illegal parking of vehicles on almost all Dhaka city roads. It is easily create traffic problem in Dhaka city.
Poor driver education and lack of respect for the rule of law is also the cause of traffic problem in Dhaka city.
Remedies of traffic problem: -
In order to remedies the traffic problem of Dhaka city, firstly we should control urban migration.
Remedies the traffic problem we should remove roadside hawkers and illegal parking of vehicles on all most all Dhaka city roads.
There are three inter district bus terminals located in suburban Dhaka. In order to control traffic we be replaced for one central bus terminals for long distance buses in the against of three bus terminals.
There are no trucks terminal in Dhaka As a result hundreds of trucks are Chaotically pinked on and near Mirpur interdistrict bus terminal, creating complicated hindrance to all vehicles plying through Dhaka Aricha road everyday. So it is necessary to set up a truck terminal at Rupgonj, Kanchpur of Syedabad area at least 2 kilometers away from the highway.
Manufacturing of new rickshaw. And putting them to operation in Dhaka city streets to be completely and rigorously prohibited. Anybody found violating the above, may be fixed Tk.8000 for manufacturing each new Rickshaw in DCC area in additional to dismantling the same immediately.
Dhaka city may be divided in 5 to 6 zones for rickshaw playing. Zones may be formed as follow: Mirpur, Sher-e-Bangla Nagor, Agargaon Zone-A, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Azimpur, Farmgate, Indira Road, Green Road Zone-B, Magbazar, Siddeswari. Shantinagar, Rampura, Shahjahanpur Zone-C, Old Dhaka Zone-D, Cantonment, Mohakhali, Banani, Gulshan, Ibrahimpur, Kachukhet Zone-E, Motijheel Area Zone-F.
Estimated 400 thousand students study in different education institutions of the city. The class timings of there institutions may reschedule through mutual delusions and pragmatic planning. Traffic problem in Dhaka city may be control such way.
Now-a-days traffic problem turn serious. It snatches valuable time of man’s life and gives sufferings. After above discussion, it is clear that problem of traffic
Congestion in Dhaka city could not be solved totally overnight. Rather it needs long-term initiatives. However, the initiatives taken so far are praiseworthy which include construction of fly-overs at different points of the city, formation of different transport companies under which a large number of luxurious, taxi and CNG auto – rickshaws are plying in the city.
