In an effort to lessen persistent traffic congestion in the capital, the government has launched a comprehensive initiative to update and overhaul the traffic management system.
The decision was made today at a special meeting on “Reducing Traffic Congestion in Dhaka City and Modernizing Traffic Management,” which took place at the Bangladesh Secretariat’s Prime Minister’s Cabinet Division office.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, according to Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.
During the meeting, he said, the Prime Minister gave some directives to take quick and effective measures to address traffic congestion and emphasised building a modern and time-appropriate traffic system.
At the meeting, several important decisions were taken to address the city traffic congestion and modernize the traffic system.
Key decisions from the meeting includes:
Local technology will be used to automate traffic lights, and 120 signals in the capital city will eventually be automated.
In addition to overpasses and underpasses within the city, new bypass highways will be built around Dhaka.
The city will eliminate any unauthorized bus counters. Five interdistrict bus stations will be moved outside the city and transformed for use by city services.
Electric poles in the middle of roadways will be removed, and roadsides will no longer be occupied illegally.
Both automated and manual signal illumination systems will be installed at city railroad crossings.
City buses will be brought under a GPS tracking system.
Most foot overbridges will be equipped with escalators, while bridges near hospitals will have locally developed elevators.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid Habib, labour leader Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator M Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Engr Md Reazul Islam, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Chairman Abdul Latif Mollah and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir were present at the meeting, among others.
Participants in the meeting expressed optimism that if short-term plans are implemented, traffic congestion could significantly ease by the end of April.
They also noted that medium- and long-term plans would bring substantial improvements.
The administrators of Dhaka north and south city corporations expressed hope that most of the proposed plans could be implemented by April 7.
To ensure smooth implementation of the plans, labour leader Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas will coordinate with the transport owners’ and labourers’ organizations.
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