JAMMED DHAKA

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    TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN DHAKA CITY, ITS EFFECT

    AND MEANS OF ITS ERADICATION

    Introduction

    1. The traffic jam at DHAKA is an increasing suffering of DHAKA

    life. Over the last few years this traffic system of DHAKA City has

    visibly been deteriorating steadily and has reached to a nightmare

    proportions. Pretty soon walking to offices may be quicker than a car

    ride, the downside being that one could be suffocated on the way by

    the obnoxious fumes and sound from thousands of idling vehicles

    nonchalantly spreading poison into homes and communities. In a

    recent past a public survey showed that, DHAKA suffers as many as

    37 public problems where traffic jam topped the list. Educational

    institutions, business establishments, government offices, in fact

    everything pays a price in terms of loss of time, patience and

    energy. By this, they lose their health and mental temperament as

    well. Even the dying patients are also not spared. This problem could

    even reduce the incentive for domestic and foreign investment and

    pose a serious threat to the country's growth momentum. Unless

    corrective actions are taken soon, there is a risk that this could

    sharply reduce the city's productivity.

    2. The state of traffic system is a accumulated contribution of

    many force and factors starting from an individual citizens

    irresponsible act up to the management system and the attention of

    the government itself. The population of DHAKA is about 16 million

    which is undoubtedly more than its capacity. And unfortunately, this

    number is in a high rate of increase. Naturally, the people need

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    vehicles for their everyday movements. Thus the city is over loaded

    with traffic and overburdened with more vehicles on its roads than

    its capacity. Often WASA, T&T and DESA are found digging the road

    causing the siding the traffic jam on the roads. RIKSHAW the non-

    motorized vehicle is another major cause of the traffic jam DHAKA

    city. Besides, Poor city management, low efficiency, and pervasive

    corruption are exacerbating the problems of traffic jam.

    4. It is obvious that unless the road traffic issue is handled as

    seriously as it deserves, DHAKA will soon be rendered immobile as a

    city and the country as a whole will start falling economically.

    Considering the above serious facts this paper aims to bring out the

    main causes of this serious traffic jam of DHAKA city with its effects

    and to high light some remedial measures with few

    recommendations.

    FEW FACTS

    6. The City DHAKA. DHAKA is the capital and largest city of

    Bangladesh. DHAKA was founded during the 10th century and it

    served as the Mughal capital of Bengal from 1608 to 1704. DHAKA

    was the trading center for British, French, and Dutch colonialism.

    Thats why a huge number of important establishments such as

    Parliament, Central Secretariat, two main Universities, BDR

    Headquarter, Army Head Quarter etc are situated at the heart of the

    city. Hundreds of schools and colleges are situated at different

    crowded places of the city. The main Airport of the country and

    Central train station is also inside the city and the main intercity

    train level crossings penetrate the city roads. So the amount of2

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    public movement and traffic on the road is also huge and this load is

    increasing day by day.

    7. Population. The main problem in DHAKA City is its

    population, which lead to many kind of problems. The population of

    DHAKA city stands at approximately 16.7 million. DHAKA is among

    the 6 megacities of South Asia which by this year (2010) will be

    included among the 20 mega cities of the world.

    8. Most Affected Areas at DHAKA. The worst traffic-vulnerable

    points include from Jatrabari, Hatkhola to Tongi Bishwa Road. Now-a-

    days residential areas are also experiencing heavy traffic-jam. This is

    due to establishment of many schools, colleges, private universities

    and other educational institutions in those areas. Moreover, many

    offices, particularly private-owned offices and factories, are also

    located in the residential areas resulting in heavy traffic-jam.

    CAUSES OF TRAFFIC JAM AT DHAKA

    General

    9. Urbanization Dhaka is consider the focal point of Bangladesh

    centering which administration of whole country run. So people of

    Bangladesh are always heading to dhaka to meet official and otherrequirements. So day by day population matrix is going hight and

    high. This high density of population due to urbanization is one of

    the major cause of traffic jam at Dhaka.

    Road network and Structure

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    10. The traffic problem of present DHAKA City is not developed

    overnight. It is the cumulative failures on the part of appropriate

    authority over the decades. Since Moghal Regime many structural

    plan was formulated for infrastructure development of DHAKA City.

    All these plans could not foresee the huge population influx in the

    city and was not properly implement.

    11. Insufficient Road Space. The roads of DHAKA are narrow and

    insufficient for allowing the traffic to pass. Specially, the roads at old

    DHAKA are horrifying in this regard. The roads have got little widergradually in northern areas yet falling much short to meet the

    requirement.

    12. Lack Of Foot Over Bridge. At places the movement of

    people on road is so unavoidable that it causes the vehicles to stop

    or slowdown. A good arrangement of over bridges could contributemuch in solving this problem.

    13. Broken Roads. Under the growing load of traffic, roads are

    getting cratered and potholed. Roads with innumerable potholes, a

    cloud of dust, accumulated water in the ditches and smoke blowing

    over the commuter's face as vehicles pass by are features symbolicof the squalid state of the city in summer. These also slows down

    the traffic and causing a good jam.

    14. Too Many Level Crossing. Traffic movement comes to a

    grinding halt for at least 10 to 15 minutes each time when a train

    starting either from Kamalapur or bound for Kamalapur passes

    through any busy intersection. It is worth mentioning that there are4

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    about 20 rail gates within the city limits and 72 trains pass through

    these intersections during the day time.

    Law and policy

    15. Poor Policing. Our traffic polices are mere poor infront of the

    requirement of the traffic. They are really understrength, poor

    trained, unfed, without sufficient logistic backup and finally corrupt.

    16. Faulty Signaling. The signaling system at the crosses of

    DHAKA is - the old. This manual signaling is not helpful in managing

    the incoming traffic. At places this signal system fails to cope up

    with the requirement of the time and the direction of the traffic.

    17. Lack of Popular Laws. The laws in vogue for controlling the

    traffic have to commensurate with the population and the

    requirement of the situation. If the amount of population and vehicle

    cannot be controlled then the traffic control system and law will

    always fail. More importantly these laws have to be enforced and

    people are to abide by the laws.

    18. Faulty Licensing System. In 2008 alone, about 14,000 cars

    and another 5,000 personal passenger vehicles (jeeps and SUVs)

    were registered in DHAKA. The number of privately owned and

    operated motor vehicles registered in the five years to 2008 was

    double that of the previous five year period.

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    Source: CEIC Asia database. Rumi Ahmed and Jyoti

    Rahman

    18. Illigal Parking. Another major source of traffic jam is the unruly

    buses. They dont follow any time schedule and are waitinganywhere and everywhere. In many cases the bus stops have been

    placed either at the turnings and/or next to the traffic lights.

    Besides, there is nowhere left on the road in the roads of DHAKA

    that there is no parked vehicle. This irresponsible attitude of people

    occupies the space left for traffic.

    Faulty Management

    19. DCC verses WASA, DESA and T&T. Few organizations like

    DCC, RAJUK, WASA, DESA, TITAS GAS keeps on working on the roads

    of DHAKA. Unfortunately, these urban amenities do not have any co-

    ordination among them. Instead of working together, they wait for

    each other to finish and start their own job and they keep on6

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    excavating earth at places.

    20. Shops and Hawkers. At places, be it a residential area or a

    market or an office area either hawkers or the extension of nshops

    have occupied the last bit space available for the vehicles to ply.

    There is none to look after the issue and help the city to remain jam

    free.

    21. Special Situations. Traffic-jam takes serious turn during the

    holy month of Ramadan, during rainy season and during special

    occasions like Bishwa Iztema, international trade fair etc and there is

    no contingency of the government to tackle these special situations.

    Other causes

    22. Rickshaw.There are as good as four lac of rickshaw on the road

    of DHAKA when only eighty thousand of them are licensed by the

    DCC authority. Rest of the non-motorized human haulers are one of

    the major causes of traffic jam in DHAKA. They are slow in pace,

    occupying a lot of space and cause jam in the streets of DHAKA.

    EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC JAM OF DHAKA

    Environment and Public health

    23. Air Pollution. Traffic-jam causes air pollution which affects the

    respiratory tract, irritation, headache, fatigue, asthma, high blood

    pressure, heart diseases and cancer.

    24. Behavioral Hazard. Experiments on behavioral science show

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    that even insects demonstrate aggressive behavior when they are

    placed in a crowded situation. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to

    see that in a traffic jam of DHAKA pedestrians, the rickshaw-pullers,

    CNG drivers, van-walahs, and bus, truck and car drivers all vie for

    tiny spaces with noticeable aggression and utter disregard for

    others' right of way.

    25. Lose of Efficiency. The cost of traffic jams is horrendous.

    Other than being late in the offices, work places or on any scheduled

    appointments, mental disgust, exhaustion and loss of effective man

    hours is a colossal drain of the resources of the whole country.

    27. Transportation and Attitude. As a scientific phenomenon

    transportation is related not only with engineering aspects of road

    and vehicle, but also with social aspects like peoples attitude, their

    physical fitness, patience, expectation, social cultural etc and

    countrys economic reality and capability to spend. And in a city this

    traffic congestion is caused by the lack of patience of population as

    well as it it gradually it badly affects general attitude.

    National economy

    28. DHAKA is the epi-centre of Bangladesh's economic

    modernization. From a stodgy city of the past, the capital city has

    turned into a thriving business centre. When the rest of the world

    including our neighboring country India has taken care to speed up

    road construction by upgrading technology, we continue to pay

    scant attention. It's really bizarre to see a figure like 96 Billion Taka

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    ($1.53 billion) is being wasted each year due to traffic jams in the

    city.

    Steps Taken By The Government To Eliminate Traffic

    Congestion

    31. General. Recognizing the need of urgent road infrastructure

    development, Government of Bangladesh undertook many steps to

    solve traffic problem of DHAKA City. The government tried to solve

    this problem by making roads one way at places. Two fly-overs have

    been constructed at MOHAKHALI and SHAHJAHANPUR at DHAKA.

    Sometimes, the police are found really prudent in applying the laws.

    Even sometimes, military was involved to reduce the traffic

    congestion on roads. Besides, the government undertook many

    study and evaluation program on this issue. But unfortunately,

    people keeps waiting in to get rid of this monster crisis.

    32. Removal of Rickshaws. Removal of rickshaws with time frame

    from few selected roads is also a proposed plan. This three wheeler

    has already been banned at many streets of DHAKA and these

    streets have shown marked improvement in traffic condition. This

    has confirmed the removal of this NMV from the streets of DHAKA in

    the process of time.

    33. DMP. DMP is the executive authority working to maintain

    traffic discipline in the city. They are bitterly facing the horrific

    picture of traffic congestion of the city. They have already

    undertaken many test and trail systems at times among which many

    were brushed away by the overwhelming traffic congestions.

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    34. Causes of Failure of the Government Attempts. Many of the

    government a4ttempts were proved to be failure because of many

    reasons like delay in implementation, rapid increase in traffic, non-

    adherence by the people to the said rules, lack of patience etc.

    REMEDIAL MEASURES TO ERADICATE TRAFFIC JAM FROM

    DHAKA

    Policy and law

    35. Good Policing. It has been taken for true that the present

    strength of police really too small to meet the crisis. They have to be

    given more man, power better training and equipment and total

    traffic system can be made automated.

    36. Parking Policy. A good and effective parking policy is to beformulated and made in to vogue. Any violation of these policy and

    rules has to be dealt with severely. The building code of the city has

    to be made such that it compels the owner of the buildings, markets,

    schools other all commercial and residential complexes to make

    adequate number of parking space for the vehicles of that building.

    37. The Vehicle Licensing Authority. The vehicle licensing

    authority to be made more active to ensure that no old vehicle

    beyond the age limit is given permission to ply on the roads. At the

    same time the vehicles get their papers updated and in doing so is

    identified for wrong paper and age. In doing all these the licensing

    authority can control the number of vehicle on road.

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    38. Law Enforcement. A determined and constant watch must be

    kept on buses and other public vehicles to ensure that they use

    proper stoppages rather than stop anywhere at drivers' whims.

    39. Change in Vehicle Culture. The corporate culture of

    rewarding people with cars and the social culture of cars - being

    status symbols, need to be discouraged. The government can hire

    buses for public servants. Business houses can transport everyone

    from the CEO to the peon in buses.

    Structural development

    40. Short Term Planning. The authorities should begin working

    on the short term approach, for that can pave the path for a longer

    term handling of the problem.

    a. High tax rate for private cars. There are two options here

    (1) Manage the importation of cars .

    (2) Levy higher taxes on private cars.

    On the first point, it is imperative to severely limit imports by

    tying the number of imported cars to the number of old and

    polluting cars that must be retired from the streets according to

    their year of manufacture. taxes should be raised to a point

    where it is uneconomical to own a car.

    b. Banning of Old Vehicles. Removal of old vehicles from the

    streets is needed urgently. This can come about through

    making sure that no corruption is involved and that traffic

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    personnel do not prove vulnerable to illegal gratification.

    c. Removing All Hawkers from Roads. The next step can be

    freeing of the innumerable pavements in the city through a

    determined eviction of make-shift tea stalls, shop items put out

    on display and the like since these have badly impeded public

    movement.

    e. Immediate Repair of Broken Road. Measures may be

    taken to ensure that the broken roads are repaired quickly to

    maintain the traffic flow normal.

    f. Foot Over Bridge. At places where more people are seen

    crossing the road causing the vehicles to stop and get jammed

    may be provided with foot over bridges. This provides safety of

    the people besides reducing the traffic jam.

    41. Long Term Planning. The concentration of traffic on the

    roads of DHAKA shows all the sing of increasing in many folds in

    each year. So there is no alternative to a long term planning to

    address this issue. The long term planning may include the following

    things :

    a. More No of DHAKA bypass. More number of roads

    encircling DHAKA to facilitate unwanted traffic flowing through

    DHAKA. These may include CHANDURA PANCHDONA

    connecting road, MIRZAPUR FARIDPUR connecting road etc.

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    b. More Number of Flyover And Underpasses. Long

    term planning of DHAKA traffic system may include more

    number of flyovers and underpasses at critical places of

    DHAKA.

    c. Widening Road Space. It is abundantly clear that there

    are too many vehicles on the streets that usurp every inch of

    road capacity. Space constraint is critical and can be addressed

    in several ways:

    (1) Widen the roads to increase capacity.

    (2) Reduce and replace the number of vehicles on the

    streets .

    (3) Allocate street usage to certain vehicles types at

    certain time slices in certain locations.

    d. Complete Banning of Non-Motorized Vehicles. Non-motorized vehicles (NMVs) cause traffic jams. They do not

    follow traffic rules, clog up most intersections and slow down

    faster traffic by occupying valuable road space while

    contributing to tremendous inefficiencies.

    Improvement in Management

    42. Removal of Few Public Institute Away From DHAKA. A big

    piece of the traffic conundrum lies in DHAKA-centric development.

    The way out is to share development activities with other districts.

    a. Government can shift all wholesale markets, government

    administrative offices Headquarters, University, DHAKA central

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    jail, all industries, tanneries, to outside of DHAKA city.

    b. Industrializations should be based on upozila it should not

    depend on metropolitan cities. Then rural areas will grow up

    step by step.

    c. Big business centre can move to COMILLA, FENI,

    SHITAKUDO, MIRERSHARAI, CHITTAGONG, KHULNA, MONGLA,

    SYLHET etc or near it because thats are linked with export or

    imports.

    43. Public Awareness. Public awareness is one of the most

    important and effective tool or means for getting rid from this

    exhausting traffic jam from the roads of DHAKA. If people can be

    made responsible by themselves all the problem of DHAKA life will

    come to an end.

    Other Measures

    44. Adjustment of Collective Timing. Segmenting the clock for

    various purposes may help achieving reduction in traffic jam. For

    this the government may plan that all timings for offices, education

    institutes, Banking hour etc should start and close at varying times

    so that traffic load is distributed round clock.

    45. Inter Organization Coordination. Policy makers, city

    planners, researchers and the related directorates and offices must

    sit together and find ways and means to address the problem.

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    Coordination among the DESA, T&T, WASA, DCC ect is very urgent

    and important.

    CONCLUSION

    46. DHAKA, being the capital of the country focuses all our national

    activities and is the showground of national image to the

    international arena. It alone contributes 13 per cent of national GDP.

    In spite of its absolute importance in image building and economy,

    acute deficiencies exist in infrastructure for transportation and trafficsystem of the city.

    47. Large numbers of old and defective vehicles are presently

    plying in the city street. The deplorable conditions of the roads in

    DHAKA City are further affected by narrowness, numerous bends,

    random political activity, unplanned installations, uncoordinatedwork of utility services etc. Traffic mismanagement is another

    major cause of congestion in the city. Most of the drivers drive

    vehicles in a competitive mode violating lane discipline. Traffic

    police are reluctant and their number is also inadequate to control

    such activity.

    48. Traffic congestion results in stalemate of city life and generates

    anger and frustration among the dwellers. It too incurs huge

    financial loss of the country. DMP recommended certain measures

    to reduce the traffic congestion in the city. It is praise worthy to

    mention that the government has banned the two stroke auto-

    rickshaws. Recently government has taken active measure to

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    remove 20,000 twenty years old aged vehicles and illegal rickshaws

    from the city. These steps would certainly ease up traffic congestion.

    49. To save the city from intolerable traffic congestion, due

    concentration should be given on transport infrastructure

    development, effective traffic management system and

    improvement of public transportation system. Urban development

    with coherent road facility, improvement of pedestrian facilities,

    control over NMT and institutional development should also be in the

    agenda. However, in general the overall plan of removing DHAKAs

    traffic congestion can be integrated as immediate, short-term and

    long-term action plan. Immediate action plan suggests improvement

    of traffic law enforcement, improving coordination among utility

    services work, development of existing drainage system, restriction

    on movement of NMT on specified roads and motivation for drivers

    and general mass on the use of road. Short-term Plan includes two

    to five year development plans on strengthening traffic police,

    improvement of intersections, increasing public transportation

    facility, creating more jobs outside the city etc. Long-term action

    plan is mainly structure plan of five years and over. It may also

    include construction of city bypass roads, construction of circular

    waterways around the city, modernization of existing bus terminals,

    establishing truck terminals etc.

    50. For easy and uninterrupted movement, DHAKA city without

    traffic jam is very much desirable. This will mitigate the sufferings of

    the people. Moreover, valuable time will also be saved. Violation of

    traffic rules be stopped. We do not want old and dilapidated vehicles

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    in the streets. Nor we want unauthorized parking of vehicles here

    and there. We want a clean city free from traffic jam. It is

    encouraging that the government is working in this direction.

    Working together, we can achieve the goal.

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    51. To imprve the present situation the government has to

    undertake required measured immediately. No doubt that this state

    cannot be corrected overnight but the more the government is late

    the the people will suffer. The recommended steps may include the

    following actions.

    52. Policy and law. There has to be definite change in

    policing on the road which will be supported by good law and

    policies. A strict parking policy may also be formulated as well.

    53. The Vehicle Licensing Authority. The Vehicle Licensing

    Authority may be mad emore responsible in this regard.

    54. Law Enforcement. No good result will come until all this rules

    and regulation are made effective.

    55. Structural development. Due consideration may be put on this

    regard a plan may be formulated on time basis. These plans may

    include the following items.

    a. Short Term Planning. This may be done with a view to

    stop the increase of car on road. To do this high tax rate for

    private cars may be imposed, old vehicles may be made

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    banned, besides, the road space may also be increased by

    removing all hawkers from roads. The traffic flow may be

    retained by arranging immediate repair of broken roads. These

    all may be aided with foot over bridges at specific locations.

    b. Long Term Planning. Long term planning may include

    more no of DHAKA bypassed to avoid extra traffic through

    Dhaka, more number of flyover and underpasses to ease up

    the traffic on road, complete banning of Non-Motorized Vehiclessice they make the roads lazy and inefficient. All these steps

    may be considered as long term planning.

    55. Improvement in Management. We have to under go

    development process in case of our management process also. Like

    coordinating the activities of T&T, WASA and DESA, we have to stop

    pressurizing DHAKA anymore instead, we have to shift many of our

    installments at the other places of the country. And finally, The

    population has to be made trained and educated in this regard as

    well.

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