Traffic congestion and chaos in public transport have become a daily ordeal for the residents of Dhaka. In some areas, vehicles move slower than pedestrians, leading to the loss of millions of work hours daily.
Recently, the Chief Adviser of the interim government announced on his verified Facebook page that all buses will soon operate under a unified system. This is expected to bring order to routes and reduce fare-related exploitation.
However, such initiatives to restore order on the roads are not new. In 2015, a committee was formed for bus route rationalization. Despite several experimental implementations, these efforts failed due to various reasons. If buses can operate on designated routes and stops, it could significantly reduce public inconvenience.
A pedestrian remarked, “This is a massive syndicate. If the interim government can bring all buses under a single management system, it would be a major achievement.” Another passenger added, “We hear about restoring order on the roads, but we’ve never seen it happen in reality.”
The traffic police believe that if buses adhere to specific routes, traffic management will become easier.
Traffic Sergeant Zahid Hasan stated, “Many areas in the capital lack road markings. Additionally, there are no designated parking spaces. Addressing these issues would reduce road chaos to some extent.”
A congestion-free city has been a long-standing aspiration for Dhaka’s residents. Every government has taken various initiatives to reduce traffic jams, and the interim government is no exception. However, questions remain about how effective this new regulation will be in alleviating traffic congestion.
Experts estimate that traffic jams and public transport chaos cause an annual loss of approximately 37,000 crore taka. Thus, implementing a unified management system has become urgent.
Assistant Professor Md. Saifun Newaz from BUET’s Accident Research Institute said, “If buses on a few routes can be controlled, no single entity will have dominance. This will allow the state to regulate the system and ensure better traffic management.”
While passengers and traffic police alike hope for change, skepticism persists regarding implementation.
Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the Dhaka Transport Owners’ Association, said, “Currently, vehicles from various companies operate chaotically in the capital. These vehicles either need to be removed or integrated and assigned to specific routes. However, I am skeptical about the feasibility of implementing this at the moment.”
Neither drivers, helpers, nor passengers are confident about the future of this new transport system. The common question remains: How long will this regulation last, and will it even be implemented?
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