IMPROVING ROAD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN DHAKA CITY AND ITS ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Abstract

This study on improved road traffic management (TM) and its economic
benefits to Dhaka City was inspired by Dhaka City Corporation’s (DCC) efforts over the years toward the development of road transportation and traffic
management in Dhaka City. These efforts include; the establishment of traffic
management agencies, road/bridge/flyover construction and expansion and the
implementation of aspects of the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) among others.
Despite these efforts, Dhaka City is still bedevilled by heavy traffic congestion
(TC) which have affected the tempo of its economic development. This is the
rationale behind the search for strategies to mitigate the challenges of efficient
TM in Dhaka City. The broad objective of the study therefore is to appraise
TM and its economic benefits to Dhaka City. Methodology for this study, which
adopted the field survey and descriptive approach, collected data from primary
and secondary sources by means of questionnaire, unstructured interviews
and document analysis. Secondary data were collected from published and
unpublished materials relevant to the study. The collected data were analysed
descriptively by tables, figures, maps and logical reasoning. The research findings
established that there was a strong, positive though indirect relationship between
TM and the economic benefits Dhaka City could derive from the improvement
of its TM system. Furthermore, the study revealed that TC leads to the loss
of productive man hours, extra transport cost, extra fuel consumption and
adverse effects on human health. Some of the identified challenges were; poor
coordination between TM agencies, inadequate road infrastructure, poor private
sector involvement in TM and weak enforcement of traffic laws. In the light
of its findings, the study proffers strategies which are expected to mitigate the
effects of identified challenges. Some of the strategies include the establishment
of a joint TM authority, creating conducive atmosphere for private sector
investment and introduction of area licensing in Dhaka City’s central business
district (CBD) among others. The study also made some recommendations in line
with the strategies which if implemented would ensure economic derivables for
the benefit of DCC and its residents.