Shahbagh gets automated traffic signals

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched an automated traffic signal system at Shahbagh on a pilot basis, marking the first step towards technology-driven traffic management at major intersections in the capital.

DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam inaugurated the system at the Shahbagh intersection on Thursday, as the city corporation seeks to reduce congestion and ease the burden on traffic police.

The initiative is being implemented with technical support from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), with 20 major intersections initially selected for the pilot project.

Eight intersections under the DSCC have been identified for the first phase – Banglamotor, Hotel InterContinental, Minto Road, Kakrail Circle, Matsya Bhaban, Kadam Chattar, Shiksha Bhaban and Shahbagh.

Shahbagh is the first of these junctions where the automated system has gone into operation. Abdus Salam said the project seeks to tackle one of Dhaka’s most pressing problems – traffic congestion, which takes a significant toll on residents’ working hours.

“This is a historic and joyful day for the modernisation of Dhaka’s traffic management. Traffic congestion is one of the major problems of this city, and we have taken a special pilot project to address it,” he said.

The DSCC administrator said the automated system will be introduced at another 50 major intersections across Dhaka within the next few months.

Of these, 22 intersections will fall under the DSCC’s jurisdiction.

Once fully operational, the system is expected to reduce the need for traffic police to manually operate signals at intersections.

This could save commuters’ time while reducing the physical strain on traffic officers who work on roads in extreme weather conditions.

Abdus Salam, however, stressed that introducing technology alone would not guarantee the system’s success.

He urged drivers and pedestrians to obey traffic signals and traffic laws, refrain from illegal parking and properly use designated lanes, road markings and zebra crossings.

He also called for roadside obstructions and temporary shops to be removed from intersections.
The DSCC administrator said traffic laws would be enforced strictly to ensure the effectiveness of the automated system.