Better use of roads, fewer dev projects

Say urban planners on reducing traffic congestion
Instead of focusing on infrastructure development projects, authorities should optimise the use of roads and public transport to reduce traffic congestion in the capital, said urban planners yesterday.
They also urged the government to spread employment, education and medical-care facilities outside the capital to stop migration to Dhaka.
They came up with the recommendations while speaking at a virtual urban dialogue on traffic congestion in Dhaka, organised by Institute for Planning and Development (IPD).
IPD Executive Director Adil Mohammed Khan, who presented the keynote speech, said since the reopening of educational institutions, city dwellers are suffering seriously due to traffic congestion.
Many are hoping that the metro rail will solve the problem. But in reality, it will not be a solution, as it will cater to only 10 percent of passengers. Instead, the government should implement the bus route rationalisation service, which will cater to 40 percent, he said.
Mentioning the condition of existing road networks, Adil said although 20 to 25 percent areas of a city are required for road networks, it is presently less than 10 percent in Dhaka.
The existing roads of Dhaka are functioning at 60 to 70 percent of their potential, due to lack of coordination among city corporations and utility service providers, uncontrolled parking, and mismanagement of hawkers, he added.
Ashraful Islam, director of IPD and project director of Rajuk’s Detailed Area Plan, said width of 90 percent of roads is less than 20 feet, so bus service cannot be introduced. Only a community-based minibus service can be operated on them.
Urging the government to take proper initiative to construct necessary road infrastructure centring Padma Bridge, Ashraf said if the government does not undertake proper planning, the traffic pressure will increase.
He also suggested the authorities introduce a multimodal transportation system in Dhaka, which will include community-based bus service and school zoning, which is proposed in the Detailed Area Plan for Dhaka.
Urban planner Dr Chowdhury Md Zaber Sadeque said recently, a city mayor proposed launching a system to only allow vehicles with odd-numbered plates to ply on odd-numbered dates and vice versa.
“But on days when they will not be able to use their cars, what will be the alternative? Is there any suitable public bus service for them?”
He urged authorities to make footpaths free from hawkers and modernise public transport to reduce dependency on private cars.
Akter Mahmud, an adviser to IPD, stressed the need for decentralising development works to reduce pressure on Dhaka.