Dhaka officials meet to overhaul traffic and road safety systems

A high-level meeting on road safety and traffic management will take place in Dhaka this morning. The session, led by the road transport and bridges ministry, aims to address long-standing issues in the capital's transport system. Key officials, including state ministers and senior authorities, are expected to attend and take decisive action. The meeting was called following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during an earlier session. Sheikh Rabiul Alam, the minister for road transport and bridges, will chair the discussions at the Road Transport and Highways Division. State ministers Habibur Rashid and Mir Shahe Alam will also join the talks.

Officials plan to review several major initiatives for Dhaka. These include automating 120 traffic signals, constructing bypass roads and overpasses, and removing bus counters from the city centre. Additional measures involve installing GPS systems in city buses, clearing roadside encroachments, and adding auto signal lighting at level crossings. Escalators on footbridges are also part of the proposals. While the agenda is broad, no specific details have yet emerged on how the 120 automated traffic lights will be implemented in the initial phases. The meeting's focus remains on securing quick, coordinated action from all involved agencies.

The session seeks to turn planned measures into concrete steps. If approved, the changes could reshape Dhaka's traffic flow and improve road safety. Authorities have stressed the need for rapid implementation to address the city's growing transport challenges.