Chattogram is the commercial capital of Bangladesh. About 6 million people live in Chittagong city. Three and a half lakh vehicles ply in the city. Besides, there are more than 3 lakh pedal-powered rickshaws.
Traffic department of Chattogram Metropolitan Police is struggling to control these vehicles. Parking all over the city, disobeying traffic instructions, illegal vehicle movement has led to mismanagement in city traffic management.
Traffic management in Chattogram city was done with automatic signal lights 30 years ago, but currently it is done with hand signals. Most lamps are ineffective. The traffic department has to handle the entire issue of transport management with hand gestures. Those in charge often have to work at the risk of life.
It is known that in 1990 Chattogram City Corporation added automatic signal lights to control vehicles at 42 intersections of Chittagong city. Later, due to lack of repair, the traffic signal lamp gradually deteriorates. Around 2004, the traffic control of these lights was completely stopped. The survey program was started in 2014 to introduce automatic signaling traffic system of digital system instead of manual system.
On October 20, 2019, CMP started traffic control activities through signal lights at busy intersections of the city. Electric signal system was introduced experimentally in gate number two, Wasa Mor, Tiger Pass, Chaumuhani, Badamtali, Barek building areas of the city. A separate switch point is placed at each junction. The signal lamp became useless within 5-6 months of this initiative.
The lamp does not exist in the posts. In 2019, there are also no experimental lamps. There are also no battery operated switches installed for signal control at that time. Traffic members are controlling the vehicles by hand signals at every intersection.
Sheikh Shahadat, the traffic sergeant in charge of Choumuhani area, said, “Now there is no signal lamp anywhere in Chittagong city. Traffic members are controlling the vehicles with hand signals.
A traffic officer said, “We are practically still not able to be digital or smart.” That’s why we have to do traffic management with hand gestures. There is manpower shortage in traffic department of CMP. However, if automatic signal lights were added, there would be no need for increased manpower. It would have been possible to control traffic using technology instead of manual labour.
Urban planner engineer Subhash Chandra Barua said, “Three-four years ago, signal lights were installed at intersections. Those signals were controlled by the traffic members in charge at the intersections with switches placed on the side of the road. At that time money was spent on the project, but nothing was done. As the days go by, the number of cars in the city is increasing. That is why the signal lamp should be designed and installed according to the plan. Otherwise, the benefits will not be met.
Rafiqul Islam, chief engineer of Chattogram City Corporation said, “Steps have been taken to start the signal system in Chittagong metropolis. In the meantime, several meetings have been held with the CMP. Two pilot projects have been taken up at Kazi Dewri and Newmarket junctions in the city.
