A vision has been set for the development of the country and achievement of identified objectives. Unfortunately, no such vision for transport development exists.
Today Dhaka is one of the world's most crowded and congested cities. Although the city is less than 1.0 per cent of the country's total land area, it supports about 30 per cent of the urban population. A growing population of Dhaka has brought about quick changes in urban land use patterns and also created a considerable travel demand and resultant transport problem in Dhaka. The city's transport is predominantly road-based and non-motorised transportation (mainly rickshaws) has a substantial share. Its road network is nearly 3000 km (of which 200 km is primary, 110 km secondary, 50 km feeder and 2640 km narrow roads). Only 400 km of footpath is available for pedestrians of which 40 per cent are occupied illegally by vendors and others. There are more than 250,000 vehicles plying on a limited road surface and the resulting traffic jam causes wastage of energy and time and makes travel unpleasant and difficult.
Almost 80 per cent of our road accidents are caused by fuel-run vehicles. Public transport therefore needs to be prioritized in all future policies. Cheap prices of private cars have pushed the total number of cars up on the streets although the recent price rise of CNG had very little effect.
Sharmin Alam
East West University, Dhaka
