Indiscipline rules the transportation and traffic management system in the capital Dhaka causing immense sufferings to the people every day.
The government has constructed a number of flyovers across the city to ease the traffic system but commuters are still struggling with traffic congestion.
Experts blamed some reasons, including limited road space, lack of accessible road, no road network pattern, unorganized and non integrated road network, absence of east west continuous road, mixed operation in major roads and low roadway capacity and speed for the widespread indiscipline.
Besides, they also blamed the absence of bus priority measure, poor maintenance and surface condition of roads, road space occupied other than traffic, improper place of bus terminal, non coordinated transport system, absence of automated and integrated traffic signals, and inadequate bus stops for severe traffic chaos.
The condition of public transport service, especially bus operation, is very troublesome and unpleasant, where the authorities concerned have apparently failed to bring any discipline for their incapability and inexperience.
In fact, the transport situation in Dhaka has now reached in a crisis situation, which is unable to meet the public demands mainly because of poor bus service.
One example is enough to make clear the situation. The Dhaka Chaka, a special air-conditioned bus service in the city’s diplomatic enclave Gulshan launched to provide hassle free journey, has earned commuters’ discontent due to excessive fare and unplanned route.
The bus service was launched on August 10 last year to ensure coordinated public transport in the diplomatic zone following militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery.
On the other hand, the state-run operator Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation [BRTC] has failed to meet the public demand mainly due to corruption and administrative incapability while its bus service is shrinking day by day.
It is to be noted that, the public bus operating remains under one command in major cities across the world to provide best service to the passengers. But in Bangladesh, the public bus operation is running in a haphazard way.
To improve the public transport system in the city, the Dhaka North City Corporation [DNCC] authorities last year had planned to bring down the number of the bus operating companies to five from 300. As a part of its plan, it had decided to introduce 3,000 new buses to be run by five operators.
Interestingly, the plan has not yet executed though one year has already elapsed in the meantime. But most of the buses owned by the private operators ply different routes in the capital are expired.
Official sources said there is a “powerful syndicate” of operators that controls the city’s transport sector with the help of dishonest police officials and hoodlums.
Though the bus owners had agreed to lower the number of operators to five and launch the fleet of new vehicles, it could not be materialized till the date for reasons best known to them.
Against this backdrop, the authorities concerned have decided to launch a joint drive against over 20-year-old buses, unfit vehicles, and illegal drivers in the capital from March 1, to reduce congestion and accidents on roads.
“We have decided to bring discipline in the city bus service. The main cause of traffic congestion is indiscipline manner in the city streets,” DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon had said.
There is another big problem. The Dhaka South City Corporation [DSCC], DNCC and DMP Traffic Department also could not enforce the pedestrians to take footpath, footbridge and underpass while the scenario at New Market, Farmgate, Mohakhali, Karwan Bazar and some other areas is simply miserable.
As an initiative to ensure discipline, DNCC Mayor Annisul Haq on Wednesday warned the drivers not to park their vehicles on the footpath anymore.
“In the near future, the drivers won’t be allowed to park vehicles on the footpaths. If any car is seen parked on footpath, the deriver will be tied up with the nearby tree. He will be handed over to the police and his photo will be circulated through facebook,” the DNCC Mayor said.
Despite severe problem, the traffic police take little action against the lawbreakers for fear of backlash from influential people or for bribe. Besides, most of the electronic traffic signals are not operating now where drivers have to depend on manual sign.
Traffic officials have admitted that the road spaces are usually reduced due to illegal occupation, makeshift shops, hawkers and illegal parking of vehicles.
Presently, more than 30 per cent of road has been illegally occupied by the hawkers, salesmen and shopkeepers. The pedestrians are compelled to use roads due to lack of footpaths.
Despite frantic efforts, it was not possible to free some crucial roads and bus terminals at Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Gabtoli and Mohammadpur areas free from illegal parking.
Experts said illegal structures on pavements were the main reason behind the perennial traffic congestion in the capital.
Indicating the indiscipline in transport sector, a study by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha [Rajuk] titled Regional Development Planning [RDP] had revealed that the city people waste on an average around 11 minutes at every major intersection and bus corridor.
