DHAKA, Sept 22, 2024 (BSS) – Speakers at a discussion today said the traffic congestion is increasing on the city streets alarmingly and commuters are not getting benefit of the increased public transports due to rising of private vehicles.

 “The traffic congestion in the capital city is wasting around 82 lakh working hours daily. Massive use of private vehicles is responsible for the lack of order on the roads and thus, people cannot enjoy the advantage of rising public transport,” they said.

They were addressing a discussion titled ‘A Great Opportunity to Reduce Air Pollution’, organized by Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) at the DTCA Bhaban in the capital.

The speakers also said ‘Car Free Day’ has been celebrated in the country for many years. But no sustainable initiative has been taken yet to control the private cars on the streets.

While addressing as chief guest, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Md Ehsanul Haque said the number of public transport has been increasing but people are not getting their benefit due to the lack of discipline on the roads.

President of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Adil Mohammed Khan presented the keynote speech in the discussion, chaired by DTCA Executive Director Neelima Akhter,