Traffic lights back on Dhaka roads: Order improves, but old habits die hard

Dhaka's perennial traffic chaos is showing early signs of discipline as traffic lights return to key intersections and new diversions guide the flow – but old habits of ignoring the signals, it seems, die hard.

Since August this year, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Traffic Division has reworked vehicle movement at 69 intersections by introducing simple, no-cost diversions – and the impact has been immediately visible on the roads.

Building on that momentum, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), with technical support from BUET, rolled out a pilot project featuring a semi-automatic traffic signalling system at seven key intersections: Hotel Intercontinental, Banglamotor, Sonargaon (Karwan Bazar), Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, the Chief Adviser's Office, and Jahangir Gate.

Early results offer a ray of hope for Dhaka, a megacity of over 20 million people and over 1.2 million registered vehicles and rising, even though fully orderly roads and relief from gridlock remain a distant goal, say experts.

A semi-automatic traffic signalling system allows operators to manually adjust signal durations when needed. According to both drivers and traffic police, the new lights have eased congestion at the designated intersections -- but changing driver behaviour remains the toughest hurdle.

Monir Hasan, a driver for Ayat Paribahan, said traffic jams have noticeably declined. "We can cross intersections much faster now. But we're still not used to relying on the signals. Unless a traffic officer waves us through, most drivers hesitate to move even when the light is green."

At the Bijoy Sarani intersection, DMP Traffic Police Sergeant Sohel Rana echoed that view. "Order has improved, but drivers still won't stop unless someone stands in front of them," he told TBS. "Even with automation, we need the same number of officers. Until people change their mindset, full automation won't work."

He noted that the signal cycle at Bijoy Sarani allocates 80 seconds for the south lane and 50 seconds each for the north and west lanes. "Now, no one waits more than three minutes – it used to take eight to ten."

Technology helps, but habits persist

On Sunday [26 October] morning, motorcyclist Shafiqul Islam was riding from Farmgate toward Shahbagh. At the Karwan Bazar intersection, he stopped as the signal turned red – but most other vehicles ignored the light. A traffic officer eventually had to step in, using hand signals to stop the incoming flow.

"I thought the new signal system would bring order and ease the pressure on traffic police. But it feels the same as before. Those of us who follow the signals end up waiting longer," Shafiqul Islam told TBS.

A DMP traffic constable posted at Karwan Bazar acknowledged that the system has improved traffic flow to some extent, but added, "Most drivers still don't follow the signals. We still have to stand in front of vehicles and control movement manually."

What authorities say about the traffic light project

To manage the new traffic light system, small control booths have been set up at each intersection, staffed by a controller, traffic police, and BUET technicians. The signals can be run automatically or manually, depending on traffic volume.

BUET has trained DMP personnel for system operation, while awareness campaigns are ongoing through leaflets, social media, and TV. The overall initiative will eventually cover 23 intersections along the High Court–Airport corridor, jointly funded by Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations at an estimated cost of Tk20 crore.

Mohammad Rabiul Alam, additional executive director (Transport Master Plan, Traffic, and Transport Infrastructure) at Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, told TBS, "Dhaka has tried signal systems several times, but they failed due to poor coordination. This time, we're getting positive feedback. People need time to adapt; we're working closely with the city corporations and DMP."

Nayeem Rayhan Khan, executive engineer (Traffic Engineering Circle), Dhaka North City Corporation, told TBS, "Signals have been installed at five intersections under our jurisdiction, and work on ten more is ongoing. We expect to finish by December. So far, Tk4 crore has been spent on fencing, footpath upgrades, and related work."

Rajib Khadem, superintending engineer (Traffic Engineering Circle), Dhaka South, said, "Two signals are operational, and six more are being installed. This time, we are using locally developed technology, which has significantly reduced costs while showing visible results."

They expected that the rest of the 16 intersections' signal lights would be installed within the next two months. They focused on the awareness campaigns, and different activities are ongoing through leaflets, social media.

Signals help – yet a long road ahead

Despite some success in easing congestion, experts say the absence of public discipline continues to undermine technological improvements.

Moazzem Hossain, Professor of Civil Engineering at BUET, told TBS, "African countries, though economically behind us, have successfully improved traffic management through signalling systems. It is a failure on our part that such measures were not implemented earlier. The system now being introduced can be gradually developed over 2-3 years. Also, strict action must be taken against those who ignore the signals."

"If buses are restricted to designated parking areas, battery-run rickshaws are better controlled, and roads and footpaths are cleared of hawkers, this signalling system can make a significant difference. Dhaka has at least 100 major intersections; installing traffic signals in 50 of them in phases could instil much-needed discipline among road users," he added.

Moazzem said most of the projects were just a waste of money with little or no benefit due to implementation flaws, wrong selection of solutions, and unregulated vehicles. If the running project continues with proper management, then it will work.

Since 2001, over Tk150 crore has been spent on failed signalling systems that ended up as decorative poles. Drivers routinely ignored red lights, and traffic police often reverted to manual control.

In October last year, the interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met Buet professors Moazzem Hossain and Md Hadiuzzaman to discuss short, medium, and long-term traffic solutions. The meeting led to the decision to install new signal lights, this time built using local technology at a fraction of earlier costs.

Even in the late 1980s, traffic lights were functional at Dhaka's strategic intersections, such as Shahbagh, ensuring vehicles stopped at red signals and allowing pedestrians to cross the road safely. Later, authorities tried to digitalise the system to streamline Dhaka's traffic. Hundreds of crores of taka were spent on these digital initiatives, and they apparently failed.