THE New Nation in a report on Tuesday said the traffic system in metropolis Dhaka has almost totally collapsed. In a terribly hot weather the commuters are waiting for hours in jams all over the city. The Ministers and high government officials are privileged people and they do not suffer as much as the citizens do. Apart from public in inconveniences due to traffic congestions how many working hours are wasted by people everyday on roads waiting and fidgeting helplessly when traffic jams will be cleared. But what is surprising is nothing is being done to make capital city moving. Only few traffic police are seen helplessly trying with no result. There is no response from the authorities about how to improve the deadlock in the traffic management. The construction of flyovers here, there and everywhere has made the situation worse. The contractors of these profit making flyovers do not also have any consideration for obstruction they have created. The truth is there is no accountability of the government so other officials in public affairs also do not take their responsibility seriously.
Moreover, the movement of VIPs and VVIPs is routinely causing the gridlocks. Illegal vendors are also occupying roadside space and footpaths encroaching on road facility.
We know corruption is everywhere and corruption affects efficiency. But traffic crisis has to be dealt with urgently. It has to be understood that to have the capital city’s traffic system unmovable cannot be helpful for the country’s development activities. So the traffic crisis of Dhaka city needs to be handled urgently. The new city mayors are expected to take up the master plan without loss of time.
