Ever since the horrific Gulshan attacks of July 1, there has been a serious need for heightened security and greater discipline in the public transportation of key areas like Gulshan, Baridhara, and Niketan.
While there was hope that the new initiative to introduce colour-coded rickshaws in these areas would help by bringing some much-needed order to the flow of traffic in the Niketan area, it is a matter of great regret that the number of rickshaws allocated to the area has proven to be woefully inadequate.
Right now, only 50 rickshaws have been designated for the Niketan area, which is not at all sufficient for the 20,000 people who live there.
The problem is exacerbated during rush hour, causing unauthorised rickshaws to sometimes enter the area, undermining the initial goal of the program.
Residents deserve a better and more sustainable solution to the problem of how to get around.
This is a matter of urgency, and we hope the city council will act quickly on solving the problem. It is a good sign that DNCC mayor Annisul Huq has already taken up the issue with area authorities, and is monitoring the problem so that steps can be taken to close the gap between the number of available rickshaws and their demand.
It is imperative that corrupt practices do not spring up under the guise of heightened security. If outside rickshaws are indeed barred from entering the area, this standard must be applied to all outside rickshaws without exceptions being made for a select few.
Bending or breaking the rules in an ad hoc manner will have the opposite effect of the intended goal of increased security and monitoring.
It is also important to note that the job does not end with Niketan -- the problem of the distribution of rickshaws with respect to security must be addressed throughout the capital.