Prime Minister Tareque Rahman Issues Seven Directives to Address Dhaka Traffic Congestion and Modernize Transport Infrastructure

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued seven directives aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion, modernizing traffic management, and restoring order to the transport sector in the capital. The decisions were finalized during a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at his Tejgaon office on Saturday.

A key component of the new urban strategy is the relocation of the Karwan Bazar kitchen market to Gabtoli. Authorities have been directed to initiate the necessary processes to facilitate this move immediately.

Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Shahadat Hossain Swadhin, stated that the meeting focused on the severe traffic congestion plaguing the city, the volume of vehicles on major roads and flyovers, public transport management, and the reconfiguration of bus terminals. To modernize the toll collection process, the government has mandated the implementation of an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system at all expressways and flyovers. A dedicated mobile application is to be developed to support this transition, with the Prime Minister setting a four-month deadline for completion.

Addressing the persistent gridlock surrounding the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover, the Prime Minister ordered a review of a previously prepared report by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). BUET has been instructed to submit updated recommendations within 15 days, which will be implemented through coordination between the city corporation and traffic police.

In a bid to reduce the burden of inter-district vehicles in the city center, officials decided to relocate the Phulbaria bus terminal to Keraniganj. The Local Government Division will oversee the land acquisition for this project. As a stopgap measure, an interim bus terminal will be constructed on 15 acres of land within the Jhilmil project in Keraniganj within the next four months. Furthermore, the rear section of the Gabtoli bus terminal will be expanded to increase capacity.

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To alleviate traffic congestion around the Secretariat, the government is exploring the feasibility of utilizing the Osmani Memorial Auditorium for vehicle parking, alongside a search for alternative parking solutions.

Strict measures are also being implemented regarding vehicle regulations. The Prime Minister ordered the drafting of a separate policy to regulate autorickshaws and commanded immediate action against the operation of unauthorized double-decker sleeper buses.

The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of stronger inter-agency coordination to ensure that all infrastructure and management projects are completed within their designated timeframes.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, Member of Parliament for Pabna-5 Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, alongside other senior government officials.