[sustran] World Bank on Dhaka transport

[Jonathan E. D. Richmond]

Here is the World Bank position on Non Motorized Transport in Dhaka.
Any comments? --Jonathan


Summary of NMT strategy under DUTP

A fundamental component of the strategy to improve traffic conditions and
circulation in Dhaka under the Dhaka Urban Transport Project (DUTP) is the
segregation of motorized and non-motorized traffic. This is achieved
through the creation of a network of NMT-free arterial roads, where
existing road space does not allow the physical separation of slow and
fast moving modes of traffic within the existing roadway.

In January 2003 , the Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) approved a
network of 120km of main roads (about 6% of the total city network) from
which it was proposed that NMT would be progressively restricted over the
period up to December 2005. This core network is intended to provide for
more efficient operation of motorized traffic, in particular, public
transport services. It will also improve road safety for all modes.
Integrated improvements on six corridors (about 50 km) within this network
are funded under the Bank assisted DUTP.

An initial section of the arterial network was improved under the project
and converted to NMT-free operation in December 2002, following a social
assessment and stakeholder consultations. This 'demonstration' corridor
(Mirpur Road - Gabtali-Russell Square) continues to operate NMT-free and
is generally adjudged to have been a success, with higher vehicle
operating speeds, increased numbers of buses operating and a reduction in
the number of reported road accidents. The traffic police have been
supportive and it has proved possible to operate traffic signals
successfully over the past 24 months, with increased driver compliance and
understanding in an NMT-free environment. No additional sections of the
NMT-free network have been introduced since December 2002.

A comprehensive and in-depth impact study of both users and rickshaw
pullers was  undertaken by DTCB in mid-2004 through independent
consultants to assess the overall impact of the conversion. Key results
indicate that few difficulties have been experienced by users and that
journey times in the corridor have been dramatically improved. The
majority of users support the decision to move to NMT-free operations, as
this reduced travel time by about 30% (8-10 minutes) per trip. Commuters
using walking and buses reduced their transport cost, but it  increased
for others. There is a shortage of buses on the corridor, since bus owners
do not find it commercially viable to ply modern large buses unless the
total artery (Gabtoli-Azimpur-Press club) is made NMT-free. Reduced
incomes were reported for rickshaw pullers as a result of the
restrictions: those interviewed requested that Government provide some
form of rehabilitation for rickshaw pullers prior to the introduction of
the ban on NMT.  BRAC (a leading NGO) is currently working with DTCB on
the design of an appropriate safety net.

This approach has now been mainstreamed by the Government of Bangladesh in
the National Land Transport Policy which was adopted in early 2004, after
a fairly extensive consultation and review process. The Policy includes
under Section 9: Policies for Dhaka

9.2 Non-motorized transport

9.2.1 A progressive ban on the use of rickshaws on major arterial roads
will be continued. Rickshaws will be allowed to cross such roads from and
to minor side roads at selected crossings.

9.2.3  To encourage rickshaw use in suburban areas, where the bus network
is less dense and/or frequent, as feeder services to the bus network.

Survey and stakeholder consultations on the proposed next sections of the
NMT-free corridor (the remainder of the Mirpur Road Corridor (Russell
Square-Azimpur) and New Elephant Road) were completed in March 2004
through the Bangladesh Transport Federation. These indicate that if
adequate and women friendly bus services are available and pavements are
cleared and made secure, taking buses/walking would not create additional
hardship for daily commuters, especially women as their commuting cost and
time will be reduced by motorized transport. Separate interviews with bus
operators indicated a strong support for the concept of expanding the
network of NMT-free roads. It is evident that additional private operators
are waiting and are willing to introduce additional new services on
NMT-free corridors: the increased operating speeds make services
financially attractive . The slow extension of the NMT-free network has
resulted in some bus operators deferring their expansion plans.

DTCB had originally proposed to convert these next to NMT-free operation
in November 2003. This was subsequently deferred (now planned for Dec
2004). The Bank has requested that in order to fully benefit from the
transport infrastructure investments made under the DUTP, the next phase
of the NMT-free network be initiated without further delay.

The Bank has also been emphasizing the importance of developing a network
of parallel or complementary routes that can be used by NMT in order to
mitigate the impact of the progressive restrictions on NMT using the main
arterial network. The July 04 supervision mission was provided with a
phased programme for the continued expansion of the NMT-free network,
together with a proposed comprehensive network for NMT, some new dedicated
NMT roads (or lanes), and a series of proposed NMT crossing points of the
NMT-free arterial network. The mission stressed the importance of these
alternative complimentary measures for NMT: in particular the provision of
NMT crossing points of the arterial network have been consistently
requested by representatives of NMT operators. Some 20 km of complementary
NMT road sections and NMT parking areas associated with these arterial
corridors, along with NMT-friendly junction redesigns and traffic
signalling have been financed under the project.


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Jonathan E. D. Richmond                               02 524-5510 (office)
Visiting Fellow                               Intl.: 662 524-5510
Urban Environmental Management program,
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