Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has taken steps to ensure coordinated implementation of development projects in Dhaka and its adjoining areas to reduce public suffering and traffic congestion.
He said all relevant ministries, departments and agencies have been instructed to coordinate their work and stop repeatedly digging up the same roads.
The minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting on measures to ease traffic congestion caused by mega projects in Dhaka at the Home Ministry on Tuesday afternoon.
“We held a meeting with all relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure coordinated development work. Our aim is to prevent multiple agencies from repeatedly digging up the same area,” he said.
Salahuddin said various projects are currently being implemented by the MRT, Bangladesh Bridge Authority, Roads and Highways Department, city corporations, WASA, power agencies and other service providers.
He said the agencies have been instructed to coordinate their activities, with meetings to be held every 15 days to review implementation.
“We have given several instructions today. We will meet again after 15 days to see how far they have been implemented,” he said.
Focal points have also been designated at the agencies for regular coordination at the officials’ level, he added. Coordination meetings are also being held among the agencies under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).
Referring to public suffering caused by road excavation during the monsoon, the home minister said agencies must stop digging up roads shortly after another agency has completed work and repaired them.
“If the power division completes its work and repairs a road, and then another agency digs it up again for gas work a few days later, this must stop,” he said.
“Works that can be carried out simultaneously should be coordinated and completed together,” he added.
Salahuddin said utility relocation is underway in several areas for MRT construction and stressed the need for coordination among the traffic division and other agencies to prevent development work from causing further congestion.
He also said efforts are underway to improve traffic management using artificial intelligence (AI), which, he claimed, has provided some relief to city residents and improved traffic discipline.
Asked about installing integrated utility ducts or lines beneath roads for gas, electricity, water and other services, he said the relevant agencies would consider the matter as necessary.
“Major changes cannot happen overnight. We have started the work. Hopefully, one day we will be able to move towards such a system,” he said.