Traffic congestion is a condition in transport that is characterised by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. Traffic congestion on urban road networks has increased substantially since the 1950s. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction between vehicles slows the speed of the traffic stream, this results in some congestion. While congestion is a possibility for any mode of transportation, this article will focus on automobile congestion on public roads.
Bangladesh is a most densely populated country in the world. The Traffic jam is the main and common problem in the country, especially Dhaka and Chittagong district. Dhaka is mega city and Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. The people of the capital are restless in traffic. Office-goers are suffering especially due to traffic jam in the morning. Spending hours in the car. Many are walking mile after mile to reach their destination. This image of the capital is very familiar to the city dwellers. However, the misery has escalated after the 'Traffic Discipline Party' was started to restore order on the roads. The same picture was seen on different routes of the capital.
Traffic on the Farmgate route from Abdullahpur, the busiest road in the metropolis, seems to be closed.
Due to heavy traffic, the traffic system became inactive to handle the situation. Airport, Khilkhet, Sheora area has been seen, heavy traffic jams. Arriving at the Army Stadium, all kinds of vehicles were seen stuck for about an hour. The long line of traffic reached almost to the airport. The same situation was seen at Sainik Club, Chairbari, Jahangirgate, in front of the Prime Minister's Office and at the signal of Vijay Swarani. After sitting in the traffic jam for a long time and not being able to cross these signals, I had to fall into the trap of the terrible traffic jam again on the link road of Farmgate-Khamarbari. In this situation, instead of waiting for the car, the office-going passengers were seen walking to the office on foot. The city dwellers have been suffering unbearably due to the sudden increase in the level of traffic jam. The life of the people living in the city is getting more and more frustrated.
A passenger on the route, said it took him half an hour to reach Kawran Bazar from the airport. 45-50 minutes on the day you get caught in the traffic jam. But for the last four or five days it has taken him two and a half hours.
One of the helpers of the BRTC double decker bus, who had been stranded on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue for a long time after crossing the signal at Farmgate, said that this unbearable pain does not feel good every day. He said the day is over after hitting two trips from Mirpur-1 to Motijheel. Passengers are also not available due to traffic jams. So at the end of the day you have to listen to the gossip of sirs.
The intensity of the heat has increased. The maximum temperature of the day exceeded 35 degrees. Along with this, the traffic congestion has also increased on the roads of the capital. People on public transport are tired and lonely. Millions of people's working hours are being wasted by getting stuck in traffic for hours.
However, the reality is that as a result of population growth, about 200 different types of new vehicles are entering the streets of Dhaka every day. In 2030, the population of Dhaka will be 3 crores. In this context, now is the time to take initiative to reduce traffic congestion. In order to make the capital Dhaka livable for all, it is necessary to adopt and implement a far-reaching and integrated master plan.
As far as we have roads, it is possible to reduce traffic congestion by 80 percent if we take various steps in the current context. If you look at the traffic control system in the big cities of the world, even during the Hajj, Mecca, Medina, Olympic Games and other big events, you can see how easily the countries concerned are controlling the traffic congestion at that time.
When a big event like the Olympics took place in China, they came up with a new strategy by allowing even odd-numbered private cars to run one day at a time. One day an even number of cars were allowed to run on the road and the next day an odd number of cars were allowed.
Outside city cars were not allowed to enter the city during special moments. In that case, the government has already announced in the newspaper, so there is no suffering; There is no traffic jam. Even-odd numbered cars can be allowed to run in our capital one day at a time.
In the face of traffic congestion, parking problems, environmental pollution and human suffering in Dhaka metropolis, immediate action has to be taken to formulate policies to control parking demand, stop free parking and impose fines for illegal parking. To spend on improving the quality of transport.
From the source of information "5 and 6 are the last letters on the license plate of the car, they will not leave their car on Wednesday. Vehicles with 7 and 8 at the end of the license plate will not be on the road on Thursday. And 9 and 0, the last number of the car's license plate, they stay at home on Friday. So what do you think? The new plan given by the law of the Philippines, will it work in Bangladesh?"
The main cause of traffic congestion in the capital is the presence of extra private cars. About 80 percent of road vehicles are private cars. Some families have 3-4 private cars. Occasionally seen, car driver and a passenger. The authorities do not seem to take these into consideration when issuing road licenses. According to a report, private cars occupy 54.2 percent of the total roads in the capital.
Traffic mismanagement is also a cause of traffic jams. The traffic police stopped one-way vehicles at the same point for half an hour without heeding the signal. Many times vehicles are not being controlled at auto signal lights. Instead of green lights, traffic police are controlling vehicles. Isn't this an abuse of power by a police sergeant?
According to the traffic department, at least 30 percent or more of the roads are occupied by illegal parking and various types of occupants. Besides, the city dwellers walk on the main road as the sidewalks are occupied by hawkers. As a result, there is traffic jam. There is another interesting calculation.
In Dhaka, 15 percent passengers occupy 70 percent of the total roads. How? According to the Strategic Transport STP, at present about 15% of the passengers in Dhaka travel in private vehicles. This private car occupies more than 80 percent of the roads. The remaining 85 percent of passengers use some other form of public transport. In other words, they get the opportunity to use only 30 percent of the road area through public transport. Who will see it?
Time demands to get out of the harmful effects of traffic jams. The government has to solve this problem on priority basis so that the people get relief from this misery. In order to solve this problem, some proposals can be given, which if implemented, the people of Dhaka can get rid of the problem of traffic jam. In countries where there used to be traffic jams in different cities, now there are controlled traffic jams; Inviting experts involved in road management of those countries to our country for advice on traffic congestion.
Md Atikur Rahma is a Columnist & Former Head of PRD at BUFT.
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