Rickshaws banned yet city roads clogged as ever

Rickshaws were barred from plying three busy routes in the capital from Sunday with no impact on the traffic gridlock, putting questions about whether it was any wise decision.

Rather, thousands of commuters were thrown into trouble who found no alternatives of travelling.

Thousands of cars and buses stood standstill on the three roads – Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate, from Science Lab crossing to Shahbagh through Bata intersection, and from Kuril to Sayedabad Bus Terminal through Badda, Rampura and Khilgaon – where the rickshaw ban has been imposed.

Sadman Rahman Dhruba, a student of North South University, said he used to go to university from Rampura by rickshaw.

“I had to take a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw today as there is no rickshaw because of the ban. Travelling by CNG-driven auto-rickshaw is very costly for me,” Sadman told The Business Standard.

Rickshaw is the most-used mode of transportation for Dhaka residents.

Due to the ban, many people were seen walking to their destinations on those roads and many others were seen waiting to board other public transports to reach their destinations.

Most of the rickshaw passengers are unhappy with the sudden ban.

The decision to ban rickshaws was aimed at easing traffic congestion in the city.

Rickshaw-pullers, however, blamed private cars for the severe traffic congestion seen on Dhaka roads.

Talking to this correspondent, most of them demanded separate lanes for rickshaws on those routes.

Experts said without rickshaws, many, who do not own transports, would suffer while travelling short distances amid the absence of the adequate number of public transports.