Written by – Syeda Fatima Sultana

Like cities around the world, traffic congestion in Dhaka is a major challenge, and it cannot be solved by infrastructure development alone. Despite road expansions, new tunnel constructions, and the implementation of smart systems, the root causes of Dhaka’s traffic jams remain inadequate public transport, poor road infrastructure, the increasing number of private vehicles, and inefficient traffic control. As a result, traffic congestion not only increases the suffering of the public but also leads to the wastage of time and fuel, causing financial losses.

According to research from the Accident Research Institute (ARI) at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), around 60% of vehicles are on the road during peak hours (7:30–10:30 AM and 4:00–8:30 PM) in Dhaka. During this time, nearly 25 million trips are made daily, 44% of which are office commuters. This congestion is the primary cause of traffic problems, resulting in an annual loss of approximately 55,685 crore BDT. While the construction or expansion of new roads may temporarily ease traffic issues, studies have shown that it is not a long-term solution.

The “Triple Convergence” theory by Darren and Scott (2002) and Downs (1992) explains that building new roads initially reduces traffic, but the traffic soon increases again due to three factors. First, old route users shift to the new roads (spatial convergence). Second, those who previously traveled during off-peak hours shift to peak hours (temporal convergence). Third, public transport users shift to private vehicles (modal convergence). Due to these three reasons, even new roads become congested quickly.

In Bangladesh, where the population is rapidly growing, newly constructed roads are soon filled again. Other factors, such as population growth and the creation of employment opportunities, further accelerate this trend. In the long term, as new roads are used more, more trips are generated, and vehicle mileage (VMT) increases, a phenomenon known as “induced travel.” Therefore, to reduce traffic congestion in Bangladesh, road expansion alone will not suffice; alongside this, public awareness, improvement of public transport systems, and the proper application of technology in road management are also necessary.

 

Infrastructure Development vs. Traffic Congestion Solutions: Bangladesh and Global Experiences

 

A report published on 31 October 2023 by Press Xpress highlights that the recent infrastructure development projects in Bangladesh were primarily aimed at addressing traffic congestion and enhancing both internal and international connectivity. These projects include:

 

• Padma Multipurpose Bridge (opened in 2022),
• Dhaka Metro Rail Project (opened in 2022),
• Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel (opened in 2023),
• Dhaka Elevated Expressway (partially opened in 2023).

 

The report mentions that although these projects have played a crucial role in improving the country’s transportation system, questions remain about whether they can provide a permanent solution to traffic congestion.

 

Globally, the expansion of roads and infrastructure to resolve traffic congestion has shown limitations. In a 2022 article in Planetizen, James Brasuell discussed the “induced demand” problem, which leads to increased traffic congestion even after road expansions. For example, despite billions of dollars invested in the expansion of the Interstate 405 in Los Angeles and the Katy Freeway in Houston, traffic congestion has only worsened. This concept applies to Bangladesh as well, where, despite the construction of new roads and bridges, the traffic congestion problem persists. While infrastructure development like the Padma Bridge and the Bangabandhu Tunnel has improved connectivity to the southern part of the country, the internal traffic congestion in Dhaka remains unchanged, validating the “induced demand” theory.

 

Therefore, these projects cannot effectively solve the problem unless fundamental changes are made to the city’s transport system, such as the development of affordable public transport systems, reduction of reliance on private cars, and further improvements in road management.

 

Learning from Global Experiences: Integrating Infrastructure with Sustainable Public Transport

 

From the experiences of other cities, Bangladesh’s infrastructure projects must be linked with affordable and sustainable public transport systems. For instance, organizations like RMI, Transportation for America, and the National Resources Defense Council have developed the SHIFT Calculator, which highlights the relationship between road expansion, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and greenhouse gas emissions. Using such data, cities are now leaning toward making transportation systems more sustainable rather than focusing solely on new road construction.

 

Infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, such as the Dhaka Metro Rail and the Elevated Expressway, can provide benefits to passengers; however, their effectiveness depends on the practical habits of the people. Without an integrated public transport system alongside these projects, the result could worsen the traffic situation rather than improving it. For instance, lessons should be learned from Elon Musk’s Boring Company’s underground tunnel project, which focused solely on private car usage but ultimately failed to provide an effective solution for public benefit.

 

In Bangladesh, while the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel and Padma Bridge will improve connectivity, and the Dhaka Elevated Expressway will help enhance road connectivity, the traffic congestion problem will continue if these projects lack structural coordination and public transport management. For example, the “Rodonel Mario Covas” ring road project in São Paulo, Brazil, was able to reduce traffic congestion by 40% by relocating trucks away from the city center. In Bangladesh’s cities, proper planning similar to São Paulo’s is necessary, where some roads are narrowed to accommodate walking, cycling, and public transport instead of just expanding roads.

 

Such steps could also prove effective in Bangladesh if properly planned and implemented. For instance, the “Road Diet” concept, mentioned in James Brasuell’s report, is an excellent example, where roads are narrowed to create space for walking, cycling, or public transport lanes. If similar plans are adopted in Bangladesh, addressing the city’s traffic congestion could become much easier. This requires proper urban design, the right transport policies, and an increase in public awareness. The experience of the Boring Company clearly shows that constructing roads or tunnels alone is not enough; the focus should be on modernizing and making public transport affordable and reducing the reliance on private car usage.

 

Public Transport System and Raising Public Awareness: When a Failed Approach Succeeds Elsewhere

 

In cities where the scheme has been introduced to curb traffic woes and pollution, the implementation of Odd-Even has mostly been unsuccessful. But one thing is clear — for this scheme to be successful, two things need to happen — public transport systems, and public awareness. According to a BBC article, which was released on 7 December, 2016 mentioned that “Odd-Even Scheme” was also adopted by Paris to help enhance readability by reducing traffic, air pollution by analyzing the effectiveness of those terms.

 

What is the Odd-Even scheme?The Odd-Even scheme restricts a vehicle’s operation on the road by only permitting them to operate on certain days or times according to their number plate’s last digit. For instance, the last digit of the number plate of vehicles can be even operational on one day and odd in some other. The main aim is to alleviate traffic congestion and curb air pollution.

 

But this plan can work when a good public transport system exists, and the vehicles used are Eco-friendly. When Paris introduced a similar scheme in 2016, with restrictions based on number plates, a 375-kilometre-long traffic jam formed, costing €4 million a day. Alan Andrews from ClientEarth said: “Limiting the number of vehicles did reduce pollution somewhat, but many people got around the rule by buying two cars.” Though the Paris plan provided a boost for a few months, it ultimately needed to have integrated a significantly more modern solution — specifically, a fleet of vehicles with no emissions and a productive and efficient public transportation system.

 

Likewise, in 2016, the scheme flopped in Jakarta, and in 1995 in Manila, because the public transport systems were insufficient, and people got around the rules by purchasing new cars. Jakarta saw a 20 percent increase in car sales, while in Manila, vehicle registrations were up 10 percent. “Until such time that public transport systems become robust, the propensity to rely on private vehicles will continue to grow,” wrote Nikki Natividad of VICE News.

 

But which was successfully practiced in Delhi, India, because they joined it with awareness and established a good public transport system. People preferred to use public transport than cars as a efficient alternative for public transport was available.

 

Weak transport systems are what caused Odd-Even scheme to fail in cities like Paris, Jakarta and Manila. Unsupported cities, desperate for viable choices, bought up half a dozen cars each. Unlike Delhi, the government was backed by public awareness-raising and improvements to the public transport system.

 

So, if we want to implement Odd-Even scheme successfully, then just restricting vehicles won’t solve the purpose, we need to enhance the public transport system and public awareness also.

 

But over the last couple of years, Bangladesh has started out on an ambitious road towards transforming urban life, for this new urban road infrastructure means nothing if not supplemented with smart traffic management measures and enhancing the public’s awareness of road safety and responsible driving habits.

 

Recently, three key components are being focused on to build smart traffic management of Dhaka:

1. Technology streamlining the road
2. A solid public transport system, and
3. Raising public awareness.

 

According to The Daily Star, the Dhaka Bus Route Rationalization Committee (BRCC) has made a significant decision by implementing the ‘urban transport’ system for all passenger buses. This initiative will have space to establish an organized transport system for owners of buses, transport agencies, and passengers. Additionally, there are plans to use FAST-PASS or online payments for fare collection. Now 80 companies have applied under Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA). This is going to create new opportunities to run the buses along the already existing routes which is going to solve the city problems of traffic congestion.

 

Flyovers and signal-free corridors of the past have had limited long-term efficacy in the region. There is no public transport, road management and a lack of awareness of the traffic system; these are the primary factors that contribute to this. Many drivers carelessly break traffic rules, use footpaths for driving, and stop on the road when signals go red.

 

In a countering move, new students’ traffic volunteers initiative is on the anvil. Students will work with police officers in peak hours in such a way, a student in Khurda Police District worked with Police for 3 (three) hours a day in the year 2019 and got an allowance of 1600 Bangladeshi Taka per month in a similar initiative by working with police.

 

The Bangladesh program is drawn from international experience but also from domestic experience. In 2018, the Safe Roads Movement in Bangladesh showed how students can contribute as agents of awareness and create a sense of accountability. Students led the way in making roads safer, informing people about the importance of observing traffic rules, and raising their voices against different type of violations during this time. The movement also started to talk about the need of road safety among masses and made the government to come up with effective steps. Furthermore, after the 5th of August revolution, students were more encouraged and motivated to participate in the development of the nation, whether it is road safety or social awareness or social responsibility.

 

And in Odisha, India, college students were enrolled as traffic constables, which not only enforced the law but fostered a culture of lawfulness among the citizens. Two issues can be solved by making students a part of this program, first it will lessen the efforts of traffic police, but also helps build a culture of public awareness.

 

While infrastructure and technical improvements provide opportunities to tackle traffic congestion, any solution will ultimately depend on the public’s taking advantage of them and being aware of them. Singapore’s congestion pricing system, for example, showed through public awareness that it’s effective. Conversely, India’s “Super Kid Cop” program focused on the concept of children with road safety and it was the children that educated their families.

 

This program should also work in Bangladesh but it should not be just limited to few students. We should continue to educate and sensitize the drivers, pedestrians, and the younger generations. Otherwise, it will continue to be just a band-aid. To succeed, there needs to be a firm plan, a way of utilizing infrastructure and public involvement.