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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued seven directives aimed at easing traffic congestion in the capital, modernising the traffic management system and restoring discipline in the transport sector. As part of the measures, a decision has been taken to relocate the kitchen market at Karwan Bazar to Gabtoli. Relevant authorities have been instructed to take the necessary steps in this regard.
The directives were issued at a meeting chaired by the prime minister at his Tejgaon office on Saturday.
The meeting discussed in detail the ongoing traffic congestion in Dhaka, pressure of vehicles on major roads and flyovers, public transport management, reorganisation of bus terminals, improvement of parking facilities and modernisation of traffic management.
Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Swadhin disclosed the decisions.
He said the meeting decided to introduce an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system at toll plazas on expressways and flyovers. The initiative is aimed at making toll collection faster, more modern and technology-driven.
A dedicated app will also be developed for this purpose. The prime minister has instructed the relevant authorities to complete the development of the app within the next four months.
The meeting also discussed ways to address the long-standing traffic congestion around the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover. The prime minister instructed the authorities to review a report previously prepared by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and determine the necessary measures to ease congestion.
BUET has been asked to review its existing report and submit a new report with necessary recommendations within 15 days. The initiative will be implemented in coordination with the city corporations and traffic police.
To bring greater discipline to Dhaka’s public transport system, the meeting decided to relocate the Fulbaria Bus Terminal to Keraniganj. The project will be implemented by acquiring the necessary land through the Ministry of Local Government.
The meeting noted that relocating the terminal would help reduce the pressure of buses and inter-district vehicles on the central parts of the capital and play an effective role in easing traffic congestion.
As construction of a permanent bus terminal is a long-term project, the meeting decided to build a temporary bus terminal on 15 acres of land at the Jhilmil project in Keraniganj within the next four months.
The meeting also decided to expand the rear section of Gabtoli Bus Terminal to increase its capacity and improve vehicle management.
The prime minister instructed the Roads Division, traffic police and all other relevant agencies to work together in a coordinated manner to implement these measures quickly.
The meeting also discussed improving parking facilities around the Secretariat to ease congestion in the area. It was decided to explore the possibility of arranging parking facilities at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Authorities were also instructed to identify alternative parking locations as necessary. The initiative is intended to manage the volume of vehicles around the Secretariat and keep traffic movement on nearby roads smooth.
The meeting further decided to formulate a separate policy to make the operation of autorickshaws in the capital more organised and regulated.
The prime minister also ordered necessary action against the operation of unauthorised double-decker sleeper buses.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stressed the need for stronger coordination among various agencies and urged everyone concerned to make sincere efforts to complete the assigned tasks within the stipulated deadlines.
Also present at the meeting were Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, Pabna-5 MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A B M Abdus Sattar, and other senior officials concerned.
