The government has taken a comprehensive initiative to reform and modernise traffic management in a bid to reduce persistent congestion in the capital.
The decision was made at a special meeting on “Reducing Traffic Congestion in Dhaka City and Modernising Traffic Management” held at the Cabinet Division office at the Bangladesh Secretariat today.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting, according to his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.
During the meeting, the prime minister directed authorities to take quick and effective steps to ease traffic congestion and emphasised the need for a modern, time-appropriate traffic system.
Several key decisions were taken at the meeting:
Traffic signals in the capital will be automated using local technology, with 120 signals to be gradually brought under the system.
New bypass roads around Dhaka, along with overpasses and underpasses inside the city, will be constructed.
Unauthorized bus counters within the city will be removed, while five inter-district bus terminals will be relocated outside the city and converted for city bus services.
Roadsides will be cleared and electric poles in the middle of roads will be removed.
At railway crossings, automated signal lighting systems will be introduced alongside manual systems.
City buses will be brought under a GPS tracking system.
Most foot overbridges will be equipped with escalators, while those near hospitals will have locally developed elevators.
Ministers, city corporation officials, transport authorities and law enforcement representatives attended the meeting.
Participants expressed optimism that if short-term plans are implemented, traffic congestion could significantly ease by the end of April, while medium- and long-term measures would bring lasting improvements.
Authorities also said many of the proposed steps could be implemented by April 7, with coordination support from transport owners’ and workers’ organisations.