Traffic Congestion of Dhaka City and its Remedial Measures

Bangladesh Extension Education Services (BEES) organized a webinar on 21^st September 2021 in collaboration with the civil engineering department on Traffic Congestion of Dhaka City and its Remedial Measures. The audience were apprised that, there was a time when commuters suffered traffic congestion only on the main city streets, but now it starts right from one’s own doorstep. According to a World Bank report, in the last 10 years, the average traffic speed in Dhaka has dropped from 21 kmph to 7 kmph, and by 2035, the speed might drop to 4 kmph, which is slower than the walking speed. Hence, traffic congestion in Dhaka consumes up around 5 million working hours every day and costs the country USD 11.4 Billion every year.

The researchers of the department of Civil Engineering apprised the audience that the main reasons of traffic congestions in Dhaka city was the width of streets, unplanned city growth, excessive population, increased migration to the city from rural area, inadequate and inefficient traffic management system, and absence of Mass traffic system. To overcome the crisis, the discussants presented that traffic rule awareness should be introduced, with strict measures against reckless and law violating commuters. Rickshaws should be removed on a phase and automated traffic system should be adopted.