PM’s Directives to Ease Dhaka’s Traffic Congestion Deserve Praise
THE directive issued by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to accelerate the construction of the Inner Circular Ring Road in Dhaka, aimed at relieving city dwellers from the capital’s severe traffic congestion, is a highly timely and praiseworthy step.
At a crucial meeting held at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday to review the progress of the Dhaka Metropolitan Inner Circular Ring Road, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Local Government Division to expedite the work in a coordinated manner.
At the meeting he also issued strict directives to identify and swiftly resolve potential obstacles to project implementation, foster strong inter-agency coordination, and set a realistic timeline to ensure rapid, visible progress.
Needless to say, the Prime Minister’s visionary outlook and firm stance signal a positive message regarding the country’s infrastructure development and the overhaul of urban management.
It is undeniable that traffic congestion in Dhaka poses a significant threat to our economic development, productive work hours, and public health.
The loss of work hours also negatively impacts overall GDP growth. In this context, the implementation of the Inner Circular Ring Road project is expected to substantially alleviate the excessive pressure of vehicular and passenger traffic on Dhaka’s city centre.
To this end, accountability could be ensured by forming a dedicated monitoring committee for each stage of the project.
However, regarding the construction of the Inner Circular Ring Road, focusing solely on modern road infrastructure will not suffice; ensuring the preservation of environmental balance is also essential.
Experts state that a major issue with the capital’s road network is that travelling from one end of the city to the other requires passing through the central area, leading to significant time loss due to traffic congestion.
The Eastern Bypass project, they said, was conceived specifically to alleviate this situation.
The project should be implemented using sustainable engineering practices that preserve the water bodies, rivers, and green belts along the route.
Furthermore, if an excellent multi-modal transport hub, integrating the Inner Ring Road with Dhaka’s existing public transport system, metro rail, and waterways, is established, the general public will begin to reap the true benefits in the shortest possible time.
We believe that this pragmatic directive from the Prime Minister will accelerate the process of transforming the city into a modern and dynamic megacity.
If the relevant government departments and officials translate this directive into reality within the stipulated timeframe, upholding dedication, integrity, and good governance, city dwellers will soon witness a new, traffic-jam-free Dhaka.
