Population: Over 15 million. More people arriving every day. Dhaka is on the verge of a breakdown.
It becomes even more obvious during monsoon when waterlogged roads make commuting unbearable. Add Eid shoppers to that and voila! Shonar Bangla it is!
This is an everyday agony. But is there no solution to this problem? Like almost every other problem, there is.
Of course such an expanding city needs sky trains, trains, more flyovers, highways, etc. But how many more governments will promise us that and not deliver is unclear. So what can be done now?
Public transportation can be improved
The mark of a good city is not when everyone drives a fancy car, but when the rich can also use public transportation. Public transportation in Dhaka is unpredictable, unsafe, and uncomfortable. Only one of these three is enough to rule it out.
Buses in good condition (with more parts than a brake and a steering) that operate on a schedule and from a given bus stand is ideal for commuters during office time. Dhaka-sufferers saw such buses come and go (and burn), but this needs to be a permanent option.
Carpooling should be made mandatory
Offices and schools must have carpooling and/or buses. Massive traffic congestion is caused in areas such as Dhanmondi, primarily because almost every student arrives at school in a private car. School buses are a simple solution to this problem.
Exclusive lanes for public transport can be introduced
Such lanes which are reserved only for public buses will make buses a more reliable mode of transportation. They will be able to avoid congestion, run faster, and thus be able to stay on schedule.
Parking restrictions should be effectively imposed
Parked private vehicles can take a long time to maneuver in and out of their space and are a major cause of delay and congestion. Strict rules for parking and loading along with turn restrictions can improve the traffic condition.
Rickshaws need to be regulated
Restricting rickshaws to certain areas only is necessary because fast and slow paced vehicles on the same lane not only increase congestion but are also highly unsafe. This is already in practice but a better and stricter design is required given current conditions.
Such regulations will mean that some rickshaw pullers will lose their jobs. This shows the urgent need to create jobs and diversify out of Dhaka. It does not fall into this list of short-term solutions, but the state of desperation in Dhaka will not end unless migration to this city can be controlled.
Improved drainage and waste management
It rains in Bangladesh. This is not news.
Dhaka needs a better drainage system. Even Baridhara, one of the more posh areas in the city, is easily waterlogged. This exhibits negligence not only on the part of the government, but also the community. Surely resourceful residents of such areas can take a stand against it.
While fixing drainage systems can take time, waste management plays a crucial role during monsoon. Plastic bags and other such materials block existing drainage systems and cause severe waterlogging and traffic congestion. This can be prevented through efficient waste management by the government and by the community.
A good reflection of our broken system is a CNG ride. The driver will demand almost twice that of the metre rate and then say: “Apa, police jigaile koiben metre e” (Apa, if the police officer asks, tell them you are paying the metre rate). The police officers will almost never ask, and if and when they do, you are faced with the ethical dilemma of breaking your verbal contract with the CNG driver or reporting the driver’s delinquency. Reporting also means that you have to get off and wait for the officers to find you another such CNG. The plight of Dhaka commuters!
The strategies mentioned above can help mitigate the problem, if not solve it. In the short run and at minimum expenditures, they are effective solutions.
After work and my formalin-infused lunch, can it also not take hours to get home?
