Dhaka north mayor to prohibit cars on three city roads [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Dhaka north mayor to prohibit cars on three city roads

Local September 23, 2016

Dhaka north city mayor Annisul Huq on Thursday said he would ban cars on three roads in the capital to designate the thoroughfares for pedestrians only so that they could walk freely.
The enforcement may come in March, next year.
Meanwhile, the road transport and bridges minister, Obaidul Quader, said that they had proposed a new law– Road Transport Act 2016– where the government would fix the maximum number of cars a family could own.
The minister and the mayor made their respective announcement at the same programme in the city.
The minister was inaugurating a programme ‘World Car-Free Day 2016’ as chief guest where the mayor was present as a special guest.
This year for the first time the government observed such a day only on a tiny portion (north side) along Manik Mia Avenue, from 10:00am to 1:00pm, in Dhaka, together with 44 non-government organisations.
Mayor Huq said some 12 lakh vehicles ply on the city streets that have a capacity to accommodate only three lakhs.
He said they have a plan to make Dhaka north city’s three roads – at Banani, Mirpur and Mohammadpur, respectively – free from cars within next March.
‘Cars will be prohibited on these roads,’ he said, adding, that they already selected a road near Banani kitchen market for this purpose.
Obaidul Quader said traffic congestion and accidents have been people’s daily realities and sufferings.
He stressed on the necessity for a combined plan and subsequent initiatives to ease the capital’s traffic congestion and other problems.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority executive director (acting) Zakir Hossain Majumder said if coverage, number and quality of mass transports are increased, traffic congestions and pollutions will decline.
The day was observed with the objective of making people aware of optimum use of public transports and minimise the use of cars, Zakir said.
Speakers said such a move will be beneficial to citizens’ health.
As the programme was underway, it vexed many as a part of Manik Mia Avenue was shut to traffic.
‘They are celebrating private car-free day. Then why are they blocking roads for buses?’ a bus driver asked.
At the programme, students of various schools participated in different games, such as chess and bicycle race.
The programme was attended, among others, by roads and highways department executive engineer, Noor-E-Alam, DTCA executive director, AKM Myn Uddin Ahmed and its admin director, Nurul Amin, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust national advocacy officer, Maruf Rahman and Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials.