Editorial
Horrendous traffic jams
Some concrete steps long overdue
IT is stating the obvious that Dhaka's traffic system is on the verge of collapse because of inept handling of vehicle flow by the authorities, especially during peak hours. On a daily basis, thousands of vehicles of every description are seen stranded on the roads thus creating a snare of horrendous proportion. The tailback jam not only causes valuable fuel to burn uselessly, it robs people of their precious man-hour, and often claims lives of seriously ill patients.
Volumes have been spoken on the subject at numerous seminars and millions have been spent on the ground for an improvement of traffic congestion in Dhaka. But, to be truthful, it all proved to be only blowing some hot air. Some good research work done in the last decade had identified basic flaws in the traffic system and recommendations have been given on how to smoothen the traffic flow. Among them we think the most pertinent ones are: phasing out of nearly 5 lac rickshaws from the streets, although only 87,000 of them are licensed with alternative employment arrangements made; taking all motorised 20-year old vehicles off the roads, ensuring proper parking of cars and freeing pavements and shoulders of streets of encroachments. But, in reality, drivers continue to park vehicles haphazardly on busy roads and passenger buses stop right in the middle of the roads.
Traffic laws are to be enforced without any favour but to our utter dismay we find that hardly drivers violating traffic laws are punished for their offences. Minibus drivers engage in overtaking on busy roads with their dilapidated vehicles as they can get away by greasing the palm of traffic police personnel. Such corrupt practices have contributed to the thriving of a culture of impunity in the sphere. Unless these young ruffians are disciplined and made to respect laws we wonder whether we shall ever see any tangible improvement.
With holy Eid approaching, we suggest that the ansars, community police and even Boy Scouts may be pressed into service in helping control the maddening scenario that haunt commuters every day in Dhaka. The BDR, who have been involved in the retail trade of consumer goods recently, may also help bring some cohesion and order on the road.
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