IN a surprising move, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has legalized parking on streets in the city’s downtown Motijheel and some other busy areas. Parking on road was illegal and traffic police are authorized to fine for illegal parking. It is true that the metropolis was erected without a proper plan. Moreover, extension of the city and demographic permutation has made the city a jungle of concrete and worse for a living. After the 90s with a rising middle-class, the extension of the service sector and development works centralized in Dhaka have attracted countrymen to live in the city to add to city dwellers. It quickly increased the number of motor vehicles by manifolds. But the city has only 7.5 percent area under roads instead of 25 percent — a requirement to make the city iconic for snarl-up. City roads are now over-crowded and the authorities concerned should rethink before taking such controversial move allowing parking of motor vehicles on roads in city center. It will just coax the traffic to a halt.
The New Nation reported on Wednesday that under Traffic East Division 13 roads have been earmarked on which parking on the street will be allowed. Besides, nine designated roads under Traffic South Division, 25 roads under Traffic North Division and seven roads under Traffic West Division have been opened for public parking. At present, tens of thousands of motorized and manual vehicles operate on only 250 km long arteries of Dhaka’s 2,200km roads. Over 341,915 registered cars are over-crowding the city of which 27,396 were registered alone in 2016.
Despite widespread speculations that it would further intensify traffic congestion, the DMP legalized the on-street parking in busy commercial and residential areas. The on-road parking procedure had started a few months ago. The City Corporations will float tenders to engage contractors to collect fees against such parking. Several car owners, however, have welcomed the authorities’ decision saying that it would reduce hassle when police collect bribe for wrong parking. They use even wrecker and file cases charging huge fine. But experts fear is not unfounded when they say such parking will reduce 10 percent city roads to add to overcrowding.
The City Corporations and the DMP traffic division should have consulted with the city planners before taking such decision or legalizing the system. It is undeniable that city needs more parking facilities during office hours in the commercial hubs. We must say more public and private sector initiative should come up to create more parking facilities in multi-storied buildings. Moreover, the city needs decentralization, comfortable public transports designated hours for different sectors. Even bicycling may be made popular to restructure city transport system.
The New Nation reported on Wednesday that under Traffic East Division 13 roads have been earmarked on which parking on the street will be allowed. Besides, nine designated roads under Traffic South Division, 25 roads under Traffic North Division and seven roads under Traffic West Division have been opened for public parking. At present, tens of thousands of motorized and manual vehicles operate on only 250 km long arteries of Dhaka’s 2,200km roads. Over 341,915 registered cars are over-crowding the city of which 27,396 were registered alone in 2016.
Despite widespread speculations that it would further intensify traffic congestion, the DMP legalized the on-street parking in busy commercial and residential areas. The on-road parking procedure had started a few months ago. The City Corporations will float tenders to engage contractors to collect fees against such parking. Several car owners, however, have welcomed the authorities’ decision saying that it would reduce hassle when police collect bribe for wrong parking. They use even wrecker and file cases charging huge fine. But experts fear is not unfounded when they say such parking will reduce 10 percent city roads to add to overcrowding.
The City Corporations and the DMP traffic division should have consulted with the city planners before taking such decision or legalizing the system. It is undeniable that city needs more parking facilities during office hours in the commercial hubs. We must say more public and private sector initiative should come up to create more parking facilities in multi-storied buildings. Moreover, the city needs decentralization, comfortable public transports designated hours for different sectors. Even bicycling may be made popular to restructure city transport system.
