More and more people are parking vehicles on busy city streets, arguing that there is inadequate or no parking space available, subsequently contributing to anguishing traffic congestion in Dhaka. In most cases, illegally parked vehicles occupy almost half of the road, particularly in front of shopping malls, markets, offices and schools.
A 2014 study by capital’s development authority Rajuk observed that Dhaka’s transport and traffic management system had no discipline which cost a commuter 10 minutes on an average at each busy intersection.
The concerned authorities – Traffic Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Rajuk – offer no solution.
The DMP is chiefly responsible for the traffic system and enforcing parking laws, while the DSCC, DNCC and Rajuk are responsible for providing parking space and monitoring their arrangement.
Urban planner Professor Nazrul Islam blamed negligence on part of the authorities. “It is encouraging illegal parking,” he told the Dhaka Tribune and accused Rajuk of not properly monitoring building construction. “As a result, most buildings do not have sufficient parking facilities.”
According to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), Rajuk is only responsible for approving building designs in Dhaka. The updated National Building Code says parking lots should be located close to the accessible entrance of the building.
Rajuk planning board member Md Abdur Rahman said they properly monitor every building’s parking facilities when approving design. “The DMP traffic division should handle illegal parking strictly,” he added.
DMP’s Joint Commissioner (traffic) Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said traffic police and their patrol teams tried to prevent rampant parking. “But the law is not always followed as most markets and shopping malls do not have adequate parking space,” he said.
Rajuk study, Regional Development Planning (RDP) published in 2014 for Dhaka DAP 2016-2035, said parking facilities were conspicuous inadequate in Dhaka. Facilities owned by Rajuk and two city corporations can accommodate only 1,474 vehicles.
During a recent visit, the Dhaka Tribune found vehicles including private car, autorickshaws, microbuses, motorcycles parked at busy intersections like Science Laboratory, New Market and Nilkhet with hawkers occupying footpaths, leaving almost no space for pedestrians.
Inter-district and city buses have their stoppages and ticket counters at places and park many of their vehicles on the streets. Several hundred vehicles were seen parked on both sides of the road at Dilkhusa commercial area and Shapla Chattar to Ittefaq intersection. The area stretching from Dainik Bangla to Shapla Chattar offered the same view.
But vehicles can only be parked on designated sites on the roads, marked by the authorities.
DSCC’s multistorey parking City Centre at Motijheel can accommodate almost 500 cars. Another parking, owned by Sadharan Bima Corporation, with similar capacity is at Dilkhusa.
The DNCC has four authorised parking sites at Mohammadpur Town Hall, Mohammadpur Kitchen Market, Banani Kitchen Market and Karwan Bazar Kitchen Market. Another off-street multistoreyed parking at Gulshan, constructed by Rajuk, is yet to be opened for public about a year after its completion.
A large number of vehicles were seen parked outside the City Centre recently. “Huge parking space is lying empty inside,” a security guard there told the Dhaka Tribune.
DMP’s ordinance prohibits parking on the street or public places and imposes a Tk100 fine. Private car driver Saiful, who parked outside City Centre, said he was fined Tk1,200 several months ago.
So, why did he repeat the offence? “Because the car’s owner told me to,” he replied.
DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq said they had already freed Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Gabtoli and several other areas from illegal parking. “We are in touch with the DMP to find a solution,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon said it was impossible for the government alone to address the issue. “People should be more conscious.”