The Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Ministry anticipates that traffic congestion will rise in rural areas as per capita income increases, LGRD Minister Muhammad Tajul Islam has said.
Per capita income in the country is expected to reach $4,500 by 2030, and this will also bring increases to per capita consumption and electricity usage, he added.
“As income is increasing in rural areas, the number of cars will also increase. So, residents of rural areas will begin to experience traffic congestion within a few years. From now on, we must be aware and not construct unplanned infrastructure in rural areas," he said.
The minister feared that more time would be needed to find a solution for traffic congestion.
The minister was speaking as chief guest at a discussion, titled “Dialogue on unbearable traffic jam: what is the solution?”, organized by Dhaka Utility Reporters’ Association (DURA) in the capital.
Speaking on the occasion, he identified illegal parking as the main cause of traffic congestion in Dhaka and urged everyone not to park on the side of roads.
However, the special guest of the program and Nirapad Sarak Chai Chairman Elias Kanchan claimed the minister parked his car on the road to attend the program as well.
"If our government representatives park their cars on the road, then who will stop it?” he asked, claiming no one wished to take responsibility for their own action.
Elias Kanchan also asked for updates on the bus rationalization initiative.
Earlier in his speech, the LGRD minister thanked the two mayors of Dhaka as they were trying to ease traffic congestion in the city.
"At least, they're attempting to solve the problem. However, we must evaluate their capacity first, specifically whether or not they are capable of taking additional tasks beyond the responsibilities of the City Corporation. If they can accomplish this, we will be grateful,” he said when asked by journalists for his thoughts on the two Dhaka mayors.
Finally, he requested that all institutions work together to develop the country without aggravating other problems, such as traffic.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Prof Shamsul Haque, Urban Planner Architect Mubasshar Hussein, Project Director of RAJUK Detail Area Plan Project Ashraful Islam and Traffic Management Specialist Asadur Rahman Molla also addressed the dialogue and open-discussion program.
