A widespread indiscipline in the city’s transportation and traffic management is seen as the primary reason for public sufferings during their daily commute.
The city people waste on an average around 11 minutes at every major intersection and bus corridors around the capital, according to a study by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
The Rajuk study titled Regional Development Planning (RDP) came up with its report, saying there was no discipline in transportation and traffic management system.
The survey observed that the city lacked adequate sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, foot over-bridges, parking facilities, bus stations, passenger sheds and public vehicles alongside the traffic mismanagement.
Rajuk conducted the survey last year for updating its database for the RDP which was implemented with the financial assistance from Asian Development Bank.
Korean companies Saman Corporation and Han-A Urban Research Institute and Bangladeshi companies Dev Consultants Ltd and Sheltech (Pvt) Ltd carried out the survey in a joint venture.
The study finds that the negligence of the authorities concerned and lack of proper maintenance and monitoring system are the key factors in throwing the transportation system into disarray.
The RDP covers an area of 1,528 square kilometres, which includes two Dhaka city corporations, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations, four municipalities, 72 union parishads in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur.
According to the findings, a conspicuous lack of adequate parking facilities put on an average 332 vehicles of various modes in a haphazard fashion in the city’s busy hotspots, including Gulshan 1, Gulshan 2, Karwan Bazar and Elephant road.
Rajuk and Dhaka South City Corporation own parking facilities for only a total of 1,474 vehicles at different places within their purview.
The report says there are only five bus terminals under two Dhaka city corporations and no specific layover for the city buses, auto rickshaws and taxi cabs. It adds that passengers’ sufferings are on a par with those of the pedestrians.
The sidewalks meant for the passersby only are used by the transport workers to get the passengers in and out of their vehicles, finds the study.
Rajuk finds that the five terminals go on manual loading system and most of the time trucks are parked on adjacent low capacity roadsides.
In rail sector, the report says the availability of train tickets is a major concern for passengers.
The parking facilities in all railway stations in and around the capital are non-standard and some parking grounds are occupied by temporary vendors.
The survey finds the circular waterways for water buses and their terminals being in poor condition that have lost public interest.
Lack of adequate services and landing station facilities are attributed to the fall of passengers’ attraction of water bus services.
The urban planners stressed concerned efforts of Rajuk, city corporation authorities, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and respective ministries to rein in the city’s traffic congestion.
Although the government implemented a few mega projects, including construction of a number of flyovers across the city, townsfolk are still struggling with traffic congestion every day.
Besides, traffic lights and countdown timers in the city are proving worthless as traffic police are regularly seen controlling traffic manually.
The manual traffic control is encouraging drivers and commuters to disobey rules.
Traffic police department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has seemingly failed to cope with the messy situation which is largely responsible for deadly road crashes and tailbacks.
Moreover, the BRTA data shows a total of 87,795 unfit motor vehicles plying across the roads of Dhaka, posing threat to road safety and contributing to traffic congestion.
Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of the Centre for Urban Studies, said: “There is no decrease in traffic congestion because of unplanned urbanisation and traffic mismanagement system.”
“It may intensify in future if the government does not take fitting steps for decentralisation.”
He blamed illegal parking of cars and plying of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws in thoroughfares for traffic jam.
Prof Nazrul suggested that the authorities should introduce separate lanes for buses as most townsfolk ride the mode of vehicle for commute.
Prof Dr Sarwar Jahan, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Buet, echoed the same sentiment as Prof Nazrul.
He said: “The capital has become unfit for living because of a large influx of migrating people to the capital.”
“If the government does not take appropriate measures for decentralisation, no efforts to promote the city’s traffic system will work,” he added.