Bangladesh News

The government will soon implement some action plans to ease traffic congestion in the capital by removing illegal possessions from footpaths and roads, constructing safe bus stops and introducing staggered school timings.

The action plans were explained at a high-level meeting on “Traffic Congestion in Dhaka City and its Solution” at the Chief Adviser’s Office yesterday.

This was a follow up meeting to the July 29 meeting on traffic jam initiated by the chief adviser when he asked for identifying reasons, points of traffic jams and action of remedy. He expressed satisfaction over some steps taken to improve the traffic system.

Chairing the meeting, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed asked for preparing a plan of action with specific deadlines. The progress has to be reported at the next follow-up meeting.

On construction of bus bay, the meeting was told that Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) would construct five bays in different areas of the city by September 30 in cooperation with Dhaka City Corporation and DMP.

The meeting asked the education ministry to ensure staggered and flexible school timings in different areas to minimise traffic flow by September 30. The education ministry will monitor the

matter and make report on it.

It was also asked for taking steps for introducing school buses by the school authorities as schoolchildren face nagging transport problem in the overcrowded capital city.

Illegal possessions, kiosks and makeshift shops on footpaths and highways from Progoti Sarani (Baridhara-Kuril area) to Saidabad via Rampura-Malibagh rail crossing will be cleared by September 30.

“Fine or penalty should be ensured if contractor concerned failed to complete construction works by the deadline. Road-repairing works should be done at night instead of daytime,” the meeting said in a strict order.

The government also asked the authorities concerned to make sure that inter-district buses operate from inter-district bus terminals, not from inside the city and not using the city roads.

The meeting decided to re-fix the time for movement of trucks in the city at 9:00pm instead of 8:00pm.

The CEO of DCC apprised that garbage containers in the city would be set at right places by September 30.

The meeting also asked for making zebra crossings clearly visible. It was informed that out of 360 zebra crossings in the city, 45 are in good shape.

The meeting advised that DCC, DMP and DTCB should sit together to identify parking and non-parking areas by going through parking policy.

Providing updated information from police control room through radio and other channels to inform people about traffic flow and road networks was also discussed. And the DMP assured that it would immediately start giving update information about traffic flows and road networking through radio and other channels.

Digital illuminated information signboards on traffic flow will be set up soon.

A power-point presentation was presented on traffic situation and its possible solution in the capital by DMP traffic and the CA’s office.

CA’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen about the meeting.