The government as part of its commitment has undertaken various steps to build Dhaka as a modern city by freeing it from the notorious traffic jam, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the House today.
"As part of the measures, a survey titled 'Dhaka Urban Transport Network Development Study (DHUTS Phase-1), was completed by JICA for modernization of the city's transportation system," she said while replying to a question from treasury bench member Shamsul Haque Chowdhury.
Under the survey, she said, construction of metro rail from Uttara to Sayedabad has been identified as a priority project. "The work of the DHUTS Phase-II by JICA has already started and the feasibility study of the metro rail project began in May last," she said.
To improve the city's bus service, The Prime Minister said, a bus service was introduced on the Uttara-Azimpur road in Bus Route Franchise system, the first of its kind, under the Dhaka Transportation Coordination Board.
The Leader of the House added that initiatives have also been taken to introduce such system on other routes.
Underscoring the need for increasing roads in comparison to vehicles, she said the government is considering construction of new roads in the city. "The city should have 25 percent roads for smooth traffic management but it has only 7 or 8 percent roads," she said.
The Prime Minister also said her government has undertaken a plan to build 5 overpasses and flyovers in the city to remove traffic jam from the city. "These are Mirpur-Zia Colony Flyover, Moghbazar-Mouchak Combined Flyover, Jurain Overpass, Kuril Interchange and Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover," she said.
She also listed different steps taken by the present government for the development of the city's traffic system. These include, she said, introduction of e-ticketing, shifting long-distance bus counters from the city, construction of Dhaka Cantonment Zia Colony-Mirpur Road and Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon Road and Tejgaon-Agargaon Link Road, setting up bus-bays, zebra crossings, speed breakers, traffic and road signs and identification parking lots.
The Leader of the House said the construction of Sonargaon-Rampura Link Road is under implementation and the parking policy is being finalized to solve parking problems in the city.