Maintaining traffic before iftar is challenging: DMP

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) appears to have made commitments beyond their capacity, particularly in managing traffic during the rush hours before iftar.

At the onset of Ramadan, on 11 March, DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman said not only traffic police but also members from the crime divisions would be deployed in various parts of Dhaka to regulate traffic.

In the past 10 days, Dhaka has not seen much improvement in gridlocks during iftar. On Thursday, DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Munibur Rahman said managing traffic congestion before iftar due to the simultaneous ending of office hours is a challenging task.

"The simultaneous departure of vehicles at 3:30pm, when offices close, leads to congestion at key points across the city," he said during a press conference, highlighting the need for implementing various measures based on the lessons learned from the first 10 days of Ramadan.

The DMP identified several factors contributing to the severe traffic congestion. These include the rush of people heading home before Iftar after offices close, frequent and unplanned bus stops throughout the city, indiscriminate and illegal parking by vehicles, the illegal daytime entry of heavy vehicles into the capital and pedestrians crossing roads unpredictably.

The DMP also issued some guidelines for city residents, advising them to begin their journey home before Iftar at varying times, wait at designated bus stops rather than standing in the middle of roads, utilise parking facilities at shopping malls, enforce the "gate-lock" system strictly for public transportation, and avoid waiting for passengers in undesignated areas.

In the existing system, when one lane of a three or four-lane intersection is opened for traffic, vehicles in the other lanes are forced to wait, said Munibur, adding that this leads to traffic congestion and makes lane management difficult, especially during peak hours when everyone is rushing home at once.

When asked about the lack of action against illegally parked buses, he said, "We have engaged in discussions with bus owners and transport workers on multiple occasions, and conducted awareness programmes. However, due to limited manpower to monitor them constantly, buses often park indiscriminately. Nevertheless, we strive to uphold road discipline and remain vigilant."

The traffic official also told reporters that the introduction of metro rail and an elevated expressway is revitalising Dhaka's traffic management. People will soon experience the advantages of the Dhaka elevated expressway's FDC ramp which was opened to traffic recently