The $62.2 million Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project is expected to help improve air quality and safe mobility in Dhaka once it will be completed late next year.
World Bank (WB), the financier of the project, in a recent joint review with the government found satisfactory progress in implementation of the project, which is targeted to be completed by mid-December, 2016.
Some big works under the project had already been done those include the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) feasibility study, installation of solar powered traffic signals in 62 high traffic intersections in Dhaka, construction of 15 foot over bridges and reconstruction or repair of 60km sidewalks, drains and road improvements in Mohammadpur, Tejgaon and Khilgaon areas in Dhaka.
Under the project, 11 Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CAMS) in eight major cities has been built to keep track of the air pollution levels. The CAMS operate round the clock with expected data capture rate of 85 percent.
The Department of Environment is now preparing the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) based on the data generated from the CAMS. AQI effectively describes ambient air quality relative to national air quality standards and is available on the project website (www.case-moef.gov.bd). The data generated by CAMS are also being used in the planning and implementation of other development projects.
The project, which aims to improve air quality and traffic system in Dhaka, would also support making more foot over bridges, installing more traffic signals and making the major air pollutant brick kiln energy efficient.
Under the project, eight brick kilns have been piloted by adopting three types of energy efficient cleaner brick making technologies. The five kilns which went into production in the current brick season have shown improved energy efficiency and lower emission levels.
The WB said that the project also aimed at reducing traffic congestion by decreasing conflict between motorized and non-motorized transport and providing safer mobility for pedestrians and those using public transport.
