As an effective remedy to unbearable traffic congestion, experts have advised that the government overhaul Dhaka’s ramshackle fleet of buses and bring the service under a single company. The idea is to operate all buses under one company, like the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates Dhaka's metro rail.
Last Monday, Dr Moazzem Hossain, a professor in the Civil Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), and several other experts met Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, where the latter sought an immediate solution to the city’s traffic jam problem.
“We need to reduce traffic congestion. We need to find a solution immediately,” Prof Yunus said.
In response, the experts suggested that a city transport framework be rolled out within 6-18 months, which would require the government’s policy and investment decisions. They also suggested some immediate, yet almost no-cost, management measures to improve the existing modality of operation.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday, Dr Moazzem Hossain said: “By forming one single company like DMTCL, the government can bring in all buses under its operation and run those on different routes in a disciplined manner. Bus owners will share profit under an agreed-upon arrangement.”
Prof Moazzem, who had his doctorate degree in transportation from the University of Southampton, UK, brings nearly three decades of experience in the field of transportation and traffic engineering.
He said a disciplined public transport network with a fleet of high-quality buses complemented by metro rail services could have the bulk of the city’s daily passengers commute.
“We need to carry 70% of trips by public transport in a crowded large city like Dhaka. Hence, the public transport network should be restructured in terms of hierarchy: 1) Metro as backbone; 2) Improved bus routes as a skeleton and supporting para-transits/NMTs (non-motorized transports) on narrow local area roads as feeding to bus routes.
“Improved dedicated lane-based bus operations will be brought under a single company like DMTCL. This being at the core, associated planning, management, and operation, along with technology applications, will ensure high public transport network capacity.”
Asked what role the traffic police and other stakeholders could play here, Dr Moazzem said: “Traffic police will be on enforcement responsibility; the DTCA (Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority) will be in charge of route planning and regulation; the DNCC and DSCC—the two city corporations—will be entrusted with the responsibility of infrastructural arrangements while the bus company will operate the buses, work on fleet management and crew development, and do bus financing and investment.”
He said with a firm policy decision and the right investment, this plan could be implemented within six to 18 months.
Immediate steps
He said even before embarking on the full solution framework, the government could take certain immediate measures, thereby bringing some relief to city life. The experts have strongly recommended banning battery-driven rickshaws on city roads.
"We’ve also suggested clearing all important road intersections from the hazards of haphazard parking, not allowing buses to stop, drop, and carry passengers from unauthorized stoppages, and not blocking the roads by placing buses haphazardly.”
He said: “Six immediate, no-cost measures will be rolled out soon on a corridor-by-corridor basis; these are just road enforcement and operation control measures of the existing modality of operation.”
Prof Moazzem considers that clearing all city pavements from illegal use by vendors has huge potential as one of the solution mechanisms, as currently pedestrians have to walk on the main roads with many footpaths occupied otherwise.
"Under the present situation, if a public campaign can be well orchestrated, this might be possible.”
On the issue of a disproportionate distribution of inadequate public transport and too many private cars, he said: “Yes, bear in mind that never in the past were we able to implement any rational plan on Dhaka city roads due to conflicts of interest, poor authority, and weaker political will. Hence, the vehicle population, operation, and management are all in a mess.”