In a landmark effort to improve road safety and curtail fatalities and injuries resulting from accidents, the Bangladesh government has inaugurated the first dedicated road safety project in South Asia.
The Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BRSP) was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.
The project, backed with $358 million financing from the World Bank, will focus on selected cities, high-risk highways, and district roads.
The initiative will make 5,000 kilometres of highways safer through road safety development as a priority.
Dhaka TribuneThe road safety system will be improved through small and medium-scale works at various intersections so that reckless vehicles on the road can be automatically detected and a national data system will be set up to aid other agencies including the traffic police.
The project will pilot comprehensive road safety measures on two national highways- N4 (Gazipur-Elenga) and N6 (Natore to Nawabganj).
The measures include improved engineering designs, signage, marking, pedestrian facilities, speed enforcement, and emergency care, aiming to reduce road traffic deaths by more than 30% on these highways.
To enhance safety on highways and urban roads, the project will install road signs, dividers, footpaths, raised zebra crossings, speed breakers, and bus bays in five divisions - Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Mymensingh.
Rapid access to medical facilities and trauma care is crucial for saving lives following road crashes; thus, the project will pilot ambulance services, including bike ambulances, equipped with a toll-free number to expedite the transport of road crash victims to hospitals along selected highways and roads.
Additionally, the project will enhance trauma care facilities in selected district hospitals and upazila health complexes.
This initiative will also help modernize the capabilities of the traffic police and highway patrol to manage speeding and prevent hazardous road user behaviour.
To monitor speed, the project will install CCTV cameras on roads and set up an electronic messaging system.
Provisions will also be made for patrol vehicles and crash site cleaning equipment.
Furthermore, the project will assist the government in strengthening institutions to manage road safety effectively across the country.
The Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Police, Directorate General of Health Services of the Government of Bangladesh will work together to implement the project.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, who inaugurated the project and was present as the chief guest, acknowledged that, despite implementing numerous mega projects under his government, safe road creation has been a challenge.
The bridges minister stressed the importance of proper project execution and collective efforts towards this goal.
Obaidul Quader, also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League, highlighted Bangladesh's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on road safety by 2030 and expressed gratitude to the World Bank for partnering on this project.
Acknowledging the implementation challenges in the country, he affirmed the resolve to address them.
Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan said: “Road safety affects us all. Road crashes are the fourth leading cause of children's death in Bangladesh, and youth are disproportionately affected. Road fatalities and injuries are personal and family tragedies, and they undermine a country's growth and human development. For Bangladesh, improving road safety is a key development priority.
“Through this project and other ongoing initiatives, the World Bank is helping Bangladesh make roads safer for its people,” he added.
World Bank South Asia Region Transport Practice Manager Fei Deng noted the alarming statistics related to road accidents, fatalities, and injuries in Bangladesh and claimed that deaths and injuries due to road accidents in Bangladesh are a silent epidemic.
“The country's highways, in particular, are a major cause for concern due to the urgent need to ensure road safety. It is clear that we must act decisively to protect the lives of citizens,” she said.
“World Bank is privileged to support this critical initiative and hoped to help Bangladesh achieve road safety targets in the sustainable development goals by 2030,” she added.
Bangladesh currently has the largest ongoing International Development Association (IDA) program totaling $16.3 billion.
The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh and has committed about $40 billion in grants, interest-free and concessional credits to the country since its independence.