It is great news that the Dhaka elevated expressway has been inaugurated and is operating partially as of earlier today. The expressway is a long-awaited project that is expected to transform the state of Dhaka traffic for the better.
Although not fully functional at the moment, commuters on the Airport Road-Farmgate route can expect travel time to be reduced significantly, especially considering the hours that Dhaka residents have historically lost to uncontrolled traffic jams.
Dhaka roads have notably been in a dire state for years, with hours-long gridlocks hampering day-to-day operations for all city-dwellers, and an immediate and sustainable solution to the problem has been in order -- which is why the inauguration of the expressway is such a welcome development.
Reports suggest that certain vehicles like bicycles and motorbikes will not be allowed on the expressway as of now, and while that may exclude a large portion of the population from enjoying the benefits of a faster route, it is still a step towards creating a more organized communication channel for the long run.
This expressway can undoubtedly bring reform and improve connectivity in and across the capital, but in order for it to meet its potential to the fullest, the authorities must ensure consistent supervision and strict regulations are in place. Only if it is maintained efficiently can the mega-project significantly benefit the people.
The residents of Dhaka have long suffered at the hands of the terrible state of our roads, and traffic congestion has cost us not only precious time and energy, but income that the economy could have made. We hope that this expressway will be the fix to our traffic woes.
