The Dream Of A Modern City

I’m sure every citizen of Dhaka wishes to have a cleaner, jam-free, comfortably livable Dhaka city. But ‘if wishes were horses beggars would ride’ – goes a famous saw. To build a modern city is not easy and it needs meritorious and experienced town planners, honest and patriotic engineers, above all visionary and foresighted leadership. The question is: do we have that kind of people? The answer is understandable, considering the prevailing situation. In this context we can remember W. Churchill who in one session of his war cabinet said, “Gentlemen, let’s get to work.” Perhaps this is why Britain could survive the devastating bombing of London and pull itself through the trauma of the WWII. As a successful leader, he believed in acts not in lectures and sermons. But as for ourselves, no comment is perhaps enough. Yet my recent visit to Singapore and half a dozen cities of Canada, inspired me to share the experience I gathered. Many will say a city can’t be modernized so easily. Maybe true; but they should know how Singapore and Malayasia could do that while they gained independence later than us. But though we got independence twice, second time almost half a century ago, we are half a century behind them. Many will say they got leaders like Dr. Mahathir or Lee Kuan Yu. Still I’m not among the pessimists. We can at least follow the examples of those countries. We can make progress if we can shake off our egoism and stubbornness to lag behind and fish in muddy water. A few simple but determined programs can make a lot of difference. Let me explain. The number one problem of Dhaka city is its exasperating traffic jam. The causes of this problem are several. Among them: 1. fewer and narrower roads; 2. density of population; 3. slum business; 4. misuse and mis-utilization of land; 5. influx of landless/homeless people into the city; 6. half a dozen authorities for road and traffic management; 7. half-hearted and corrupt effort of enforcing law and order on the roads etc. These problems are in fact being sustained by our law & order agencies as well our administration because those have become very potential source of income for many without investing a farthing. But in every modern city public transport system has been introduced and there are no outdated and smaller vehicles on the streets. For easy and comfortable movement of traffic, MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) has been introduced by way of light trains or big-bodied/double-decker comfortable buses connecting even satellite townships which have made commuters come to the centre of the town easily and comfortably. In most road and rail crossings either the rail track or the road has been elevated bringing the cost to the minimum. In the downtowns they have constructed multistory parking places where you can park your car only by paying high parking fees. Parking anywhere and everywhere being strictly prohibited, car owners prefer to leave their cars in the MRT or bus stations leaving their car there or not taking out their cars at all. So the roads have become more or less jam-free. The city authorities are also earning a lot by realizing parking fees from the parking lots. But the situation in our city is quite different. The govt seems to have no control over vehicle owners or they do not sincerely want to solve the problem. We have thousands of buses, minibuses, human haulers, tempos, CNGs, taxicabs which are either beyond the reach of law or get clandestine support of the authorities concerned. In this respect the govt agencies should act sincerely and honestly taking the problem as serious and very harmful for the economy of the country. However, we are heartened to hear that an elevated expressway from Syedabad to Uttara and Gabtoli is in the process of construction. But just by constructing an elevated expressway and keeping the roads as crammed with vehicles of different sizes and age won’t solve the problem. The excuse of 8% - 9% of the city for roads is not very strong. We could reduce the problem to a great extent by replacing age-old and smaller vehicles by luxurious and comfortable buses in the streets with modern ticketing system. This could be done by forming 5/6 BRT companies for the main routes. The owners of thousands of buses now could be shareholders of those companies. This would remove unhealthy and dangerous competition on the roads jeopardizing people’s lives and properties. Of course this depends on the sincere and visionary measures to be taken by the govt. In the case of fewer roads we can make a difference if a pragmatic program is taken. We know we have only 145,000 sq. km of land area with a colossal population of 150 million. Still we did never care to make wise and judicious use of that limited land. The total land area of Dhaka city is hardly 1000 sq. km. but by a good planning based on ground reality we can extract at least 15% - 20% of that land which could be used as children’s park, swimming pools, gyms, walkways for elders, playgrounds etc. We have several govt officers’ and employees’ colonies at Azimpur. Eskaton, Kalabagan, Motijheel etc. The buildings there are only four storeyed. Moreover, most of them have become age-worn requiring frequent repair. Through a wise housing planning we can extract a very good chunk of land by constructing 15/20 storey buildings with 10/12 flats on each floor of same size as now with modern facilities. If this is done, I’m sure Motijheel area alone can accommodate 2/3rds of the officers and employees living in different colonies. This would minimize expenditure of public money by way of transport and other public utility services like power, gas, water etc besides stopping wastage and theft. The slum and heavily congested areas like Katasur, Rayerbazar, Shakharibazar, Patuatuly, Babubazar, etc could be made into modern apartment complexes with all civic facilities needed for a decent living by demolishing ramshackle, dilapidated houses, tin-sheds and other improvised shelters (?). The local MPs can play important role in doing that. In this case, the example of Singapore can be followed. It’s very sad that every year tragic fire destroys the slums like Islambag, Nimtoli etc only because our mindset is still stuck in the nineteenth century. A few months ago we watched in a TV channel that the planning for constructing footpaths has been shelved though the fund has been squandered by responsible persons going abroad for “gaining experience” how footpaths could be made. Strange!! To make the best use of our limited land we must stop allotment of plots forthwith. We should rather encourage the realtors to construct multi-storeyed apartment buildings on lands around Dhaka city judicially and wisely allotted to them. Those satellite townships should be connected to the city by commuter trains and big-bodied/double-decker buses. There should be sidewalks along each and every road except the highways for pedestrians. As of now, for the existing roads, the town planners can easily do it simply by covering the open drains with 3/4 feet wide slabs, since there’s no space for expansion in residential areas. The open drains have been a great threat to public health by being ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, besides offering some irresponsible citizens to be used as open dustbin. They throw solid wastes into the drains causing serious blockade and creating a very dirty and stinking atmosphere. To be brief the city must grow vertically if we want a clean, jam-free, less crowded city where people could breathe a bit of fresh air and move without shoving others. But whatever we do, if the landless/homeless people continue to flood the city, no plan can be implemented satisfactorily. To do that, the govt has to create opportunity for self employment through small and cottage industries, engaging people on co-operative basis in farming, fish culture and other feasible and viable programs. There is ample scope for implementing those programs across the country if the govt sincerely and honestly wants it. The garment and tannery industries should be shifted outside the city without further delay. All the industries should construct workers’ colonies within walking distance. This will make the workers’ life easier, safer and much less hazardous. This will also make road traffic less congested. In the same way Dhaka Central Jail must be shifted outside the capital as soon as possible and made the site a park for environmental development for the inhabitants of the old part of the city. The govt should adopt a zero-tolerance policy in dealing with setting up slums overnight wherever there is space. That it has become a great source of income for the vested quarters is no secret now. This practice must be stopped. However, all those are suggestions from an ordinary citizen who, like many others, want a cleaner, safer, jam-free, comfortably livable city. The rest is with the good intention of the govt.