Page 102 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES December 2019

TRANSPORT

HUBS

Dhaka Airport
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be
reconstructed as a multimodal hub. In order
to take the project ahead Bangladesh Railway
(BR) has already in talks with Japan for
implementing it with G2G on PPP basis.

Kamalapur Station
Bangladesh Railway has been in discussion
with Japan for implementing the project in
G2G on PPP basis. Kajima Corporation is
leading the Japanese team and already
preparing a concept plan.

Mohakhali Bus Terminal
The terminal will be reconstructed and
reoriented as a part of the BRT Line-3 project.
Gabtoli Bus Terminal
The terminal will be transformed into
integrated transport hub as a part of the MRT
Line-5 project.
Source: JICA Study Team | Figure 12.36 Multimodal and Interchange Station

Unfortunately, the needs of the people are as usually ignored
while taking up the projects recommended in RSTP. Their lack of
political and economic power and thus inability to influence
politicians who shape government policies; resulted in ignoring
the implementation of the important components of RSTP which
would have mitigated transport problems of the masses. Instead,
recent steps and decisions are more or less focused on trying to
speed up travel for the motorized elite by constructing numerous
grade-separated flyovers, overpasses and interchanges (e.g.
Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover, Kuril interchange, Banani overpass
etc.) disregarding the needs of pedestrians and public transport
users.
In recent developments, modern megacities of the world tend to
move towards public transport and walking. It is a blessing for a
developing city like Dhaka to already have that desirable modal
choice (travel by bus and walking) which others are trying so
hard to achieve. In order to utilize this to our advantage, we have
to properly plan and restructure Dhaka's bus network, operation
and service as soon as possible. Also, with such a large number
of people preferring to walk, we must provide proper facilities and
priority to pedestrians not only on the basis of traffic demand but
also from transport equity perspective. We must realize Dhaka is
in a unique position, where only mega projects may not always
deliver the expected results, unless we understand the context of
Source: JICA Study Team the city and plan properly to provide services to the people.
Figure 12.42 Locations of the Proposed New Bus Terminals

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