There was a time when commuters suffered traffic congestion only on the main city streets, but now it starts right from one's doorstep. Traffic jam has turned daily trips into nightmares. According to a World Bank report, in the last 10 years, the average traffic speed in Dhaka has dropped from 21 kilometres per hour (kmph) to 7 kmph, and by 2035, the speed might drop to 4 mph, which is slower than the walking speed. Another study, commissioned by Brac Institute of Government and Development, says traffic congestion in Dhaka eats up around 5 million working hours every day and costs the country USD 11.4 billion every year. The financial loss is a calculation of the cost of time lost in traffic congestion and the money spent on operating vehicles for the extra hours.
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Researchers say dealing with heavy traffic can cause serious physical and mental problems, including stress and aggression resulting in road rage. A survey by the Passengers' Welfare Association revealed that at least 87 percent of buses and minibusses violate traffic rules. Every day at least 64 people are losing their life while 150 others are getting injured across the country
It should be noted that our public transport system is not adequate and properly routed. If we can introduce a dependable public transport system, the pressure of private cars and other vehicles will be less on the road. According to the BRTA, 20,304 new cars were added to Dhaka's traffic in 2016, meaning over 55 new cars hit the streets every day. As the number of cars increases, the demand for parking space also increases. But unfortunately, parking space is quite inadequate in our city.
Most of the cars are parked on roads. Many intercity buses and trucks are parked on a regular basis on the streets in Mohakhali, Sayedabad, Gabtoli, Tejgaon, Malibagh, and other areas. Trucks load and unload commodity items, construction materials, and other goods in the middle of a road, causing huge traffic jams. In order to ease traffic congestion, the government has undertaken some long-term projects, including three-ring roads to deviate traffic from the city center, five metro rail lines, two rapid bus routes, and 1,200 kilometers of new roadways. Some of these projects are already at different stages of implementation. But importantly, all this might prove insufficient unless we decentralize Dhaka.
The city is already overpopulated and its infrastructure doesn't match the scale of its population (18 million). Every year, almost half a million add to this figure and this pressure of the population is making its traffic condition worse by the day.
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