Editorial
Mega projects to solve city's traffic woes
Thinking harder before rushing to decision is advisable
THE prime minister's announcement to establish elevated and underground trains is a welcome move, if only to solve the city's ever-worsening traffic tangle. However, as she has put forward both the ideas of elevated expressway and the underground rail in the same breath, the question that now arises is which of the systems would get the first priority. For both the projects are ambitious and would involve astronomical costs. So, it would be first necessary to choose between them and then take steps for its implementation on priority basis.
Since either of the projects falls under the category of mega projects, a word of caution would not be out of place here. For in most cases here or in other parts of the underdeveloped world, there are experiences of many such projects, which are often promoted by big companies and their local agents, becoming white elephants. So, a comprehensive feasibility study should be undertaken before going for such mega transport projects. At the same time, it would also be necessary to gather experience from neighbouring countries, such as Kolkata of West Bengal in India and Bangkok in Thailand where metro-rail and sky train systems have already been introduced.
Moreover, comparison of the soil conditions of theses cities with that of Dhaka would help determine Dhaka's prospect for the elevated expressway or the metro-rail in particular, in a better way. So, it will be absolute imperative that these steps are taken by the implementation agencies concerned before any of the projects get the go ahead signal.
Since the above projects are long-term, time-taking ones, short-term measures like construction of more flyovers and setting up of circular roads and orbital waterways, should be undertaken with priority to address the city's urgent problems, before going for the larger mass transit projects.
Anyway, apart from its promise of addressing the traffic woes, such system of mass transit does also hold a promise to give the city a more modernistic look. So, considering from both the angles, the introduction of a modern mass transit system in the city has been long overdue.
While appreciating such a radical idea to improve and modernise Dhaka's communications network, we would again stress with a note of caution about the risks that the suggested mega-projects involve. Prospect of long-term viability and sustainability of such projects will remain a big issue, for ideally, the envisaged projects should last for about a hundred years. Last but not least, we would like to remind the authorities concerned the old adage: look before you leap. In fact, it is always advisable to have a rethink, before rushing to any decision.
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