Unclogging our roads

When it comes fixing Dhaka’s traffic situation, constructing flyovers is nowhere near enough. In fact, all it does is move the congestion from one place to another, oftentimes exacerbating the traffic problems Dhaka already has, creating new bottlenecks and narrower streets. A big part of the problem lies in the fact that there are too many vehicles on the road in the first place. In this regard, the government’s plan to install a circular train service is a step in the right direction. We have editorialised before on the need for investment in rail projects: It is the one solution that could potentially remove the congestion that plagues Dhaka and its commuters. The train, which will run about 82km, will connect some of Dhaka’s most important and traffic heavy sections. Not only will this reduce the number of people inside the city, but the utilisation also paves the way for traffic-free travel. Dhaka’s over-reliance on motor vehicles has meant that there is no more space within the city limits to allow for smooth flow of traffic: There are too many people and too many cars at any given point in time. But trains are the future: They can be the solution that experts have for decades said flyovers cannot be, which have merely functioned as ramps instead of reducing traffic time. But, of course, trains will not solve everything -- what the government needs to do is revolutionise completely how our traffic currently functions. We need to implement stricter rules, create a proper traffic management system, and plan ahead when it comes to changing the way our traffic flows.