Commuters travelling across Dhaka are facing harrowing time as they have to remain stuck on roads for hours due to heavy traffic gridlock in different parts of the city. Situation of traffic congestion in the capital has worsened following the resumption of full-fledged classes in all educational institutions. Office-goers and students of primary, secondary schools, colleges and universities are going through tremendous suffering due to severe traffic gridlock.
This standoff continues plunging the city’s public transportation system into further chaos, causing immense sufferings to them for the past two weeks. We people are spending a lot of money and time due to the chaotic movement of public transport in the city.
The authorities concerned must take integrated, coordinated
and effective measures to restore discipline on roads and highways
Many think that the increase in the number of rickshaws and other vehicles is the main cause behind the traffic congestion. As many as seven lakh of non-mechanical vehicles such as rickshaws, vans and carts have been plying the city roads alongside the mechanical vehicles which have greatly contributed to the city's nagging traffic jams.
Illegal occupation of the places under the flyovers has also contributed to the city's traffic jam. Mechanical and non-mechanical vehicles are also kept on our main city roads in a scattered way. Both Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation have undertaken a set of measures including revival of naval routes, construction of new roads and modernisation of existing traffic system in coordination with the government’s multilateral approach to ease the city's acute traffic congestion. But there is no effective system in this regard, and so there is no discipline.
The authorities concerned must take integrated, coordinated and effective measures to restore discipline on roads and highways. Also, the authorities concerned must eliminate the illegal occupants by any means and none should be allowed anymore to grab footpaths in the capital. Relevant authorities must pay attention on developing the existing roads, widening 53 intersections, registering non-mechanical vehicles, rationalising bus routes, ensuring adequate places for parking and removing illegal occupants of roads to make city traffic system smooth.