Although the Dhaka airport is located merely 14km from the city, due to the lack of a safe and convenient public transport system from the airport and the lack of an affordable and adequate taxi service at the airport, it is common for most people accessing the airport from the city to arrange some form of personal transport.
This has not only significantly increased the number of personal vehicle going to and from the airport, it has made it a big hassle for people who needs to travel to the airport but do not have access to a personal vehicle.
To travel to or from the airport, people who do not have access to a personal vehicle often have to rely on car rental services that most of the time do not have good safety records. Sometimes people take auto-rickshaws to travel to the airport, but traveling by an auto-rickshaw with large and heavy luggage is inconvenient.
The Dhaka airport is located only about half a kilometre from the Dhaka airport railway station. There is also a bus stop adjacent to the railway station.
Air travelers who do not have access to a personal vehicle and who cannot afford to take a taxi or auto-rickshaw or rent a car has to rely on the train or the bus to travel to and from the airport.
To travel between the airport and the airport railway station, one has to cross the foot-over bridge across the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
And doing so with heavy luggage is quite inconvenient. This is why many travelers cross the highway by jaywalking around the airport roundabout, in the process greatly endangering their safety.
Many travelers in the past have collided with motorised vehicles while crossing the road in such a manner.
On the other hand, in order to travel to Bangkok city from Suvarnabhumi Airport, one can avail public transport services such as the Airport rail link (metro rail), city buses, taxis, or limousine services from the airport premises.
This is why although the Suvarnabhumi Airport is located more than 30km away from the city, one can easily, safely, and conveniently travel there from the airport and the other way around.
Most importantly, to travel to and from the airport, a traveler does not have to depend on their personal transport. This has significantly reduced the number of personal vehicles traveling to the Suvarnabhumi airport.
An integrated public transport system is essential to enhance the transportation system as it increases the use of public transport and reduces the need for using personal vehicles, reducing traffic congestion.
Providing an integrated public transport similar to that of the Suvarnabhumi airport at the Dhaka airport will ensure safer and more convenient access to the airport and reduce the need for personal vehicles to access the airport.
To provide an integrated public transport at the Dhaka airport, shuttle buses can be provided from the airport premises to the airport railway station and to major areas of Dhaka. A shuttle train can be provided from the airport railway station to Kamlapur railway station, which will also benefit city commuters.
The taxi service at the airport should also be made affordable. In time, an over-head or underground walkway can be built between the airport and the airport railway station.
Ridwan Quaium is a transporting engineer working in Thailand.
