A Preliminary Feasibility Study of Bus Rapid Transit System in the Context of Present Road Network in Dhaka

Abstract

Like many other cities in developing countries Dhaka is struggling with the problem of how to upgrade and improve existing transit services at a low cost. The ever-increasing chaos and congestion, high rate of accidents and rapidly deteriorating transport operational, management and environmental condition calls for immediate considerations of an alternative transport option that could reduce the transport problem. In the way of searching a fruitful solution to the transport problem, various options are available. The experience of other developing countries (like Columbia, Jakarta) shows that implementation of a bus rapid transit option may come out successful. But, it is still questionable whether the modern space efficient mass transit system particularly introduce of BRT is feasible or not for the present road network system viz. quantity, quality, orientation, functionality as well as land use and transport network structure of this city. This study presents the prevailing transport and traveling scenario and the characteristics of existing mass transit system in Dhaka Metropolitan city. Particular emphasis has been made to assess the feasibility of BRT options as compared to the physical and infrastructural capacity of the road network of Dhaka city. Finally, a set of recommendations have been proposed to improve the physical, infrastructural and operational condition of the transportation system aims at introducing modern mass rapid transit system in Dhaka Metropolitan City to meet the future enormous demand.