Editorial
Dealing with traffic congestion
Convert the suggestions into an action plan
THE government has rightly decided to address traffic congestion in the city, which is worsening day by day, through implementing the recommendations of a committee constituted to examine the traffic issue in all its ramifications.
Obviously, structural deficiencies and mismanagement have landed the whole city in what may be termed a "traffic quagmire" which considerably slows down the pace of life. The government has directed the City Corporation not to allow the inter-district buses to enter the city which put further pressure on the precarious traffic situation. The decision to keep those big vehicles off the city roads, without causing any disruption, is certainly a positive one which should have been taken long back. Similarly, the government has, quite expectedly, instructed the CNG stations to install more supply lines for the benefit of the huge number of vehicles often stuck in long queues.
However, the decision to reduce the number of city bus routes to 40 from the existing 129 sounds rather unrealistic, considering the ever-increasing number of commuters dependent on bus service. This may lessen traffic congestion, but the trouble that it will cause to people in general must be considered with due sympathy. The question is: what is the government planning to do to offset the huge inconvenience that drastic reduction of bus routes will invariably cause to the commuters? Actually, the planners should think in terms of developing a mass transit system before going for any big adjustment or change.
There are too many loopholes in traffic management that should not be overlooked any longer. Most high-rise buildings in the city still don't have adequate parking spaces and the same is true about markets and offices in busy commercial areas. This problem has to be resolved immediately if we don't want the traffic situation to go further out of control. Bus drivers lack training and awareness of traffic rules and frequently use vacant roadside spaces as bus stops. The traffic managers have to ensure that no bus stop exists within 200 yards of any intersection. Finally, the existing bus stops have to be maintained properly to avoid chaos.
There is no doubt that something has to be done about Dhaka's disorderly traffic situation. But the decision makers have to pay due attention to the needs of the vast majority of commuters.
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