The prime minister is right to have emphasised the need to improve the country’s road network at the inauguration of the first part of the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover project.
A better road network is essential to reduce journey times and open up new economic opportunities.
The costs of congestion alone make it imperative the government do more to commit to investing in better, safer, and speedier roads and highway networks.
Bangladesh is still a long way off however from ensuring our road network meets future economic needs. The long delays in progressing fly-over projects and on improving the Dhaka- Chittagong highway reflect a lack of vision and weak management of projects, which need to be overcome.
It is completely unacceptable for instance that not a single kilometer of the 1,741km of Bangladeshi roadways designated as part of the Asian Highway meets required international standards.
Poor planning and lack of vision in developing a proper inter-city network of modern four and six lane highways between major propitiation centres, severely constrains their capacity for growth. It also increases accidents and fatalities caused by overtaking on narrow or single lane roads.
We must invest now in a faster, more efficient, and safer national network to help increase capacity and improve journey times and safety.
Planned properly with more investment in improving railways and public transport, they can aid decentralisation and spread the benefits of economic growth around the whole country.
Better roads are also imperative to make the country more attractive for investment and to increase connectivity and take full advantage of Bangladesh’s geographical position at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia.
Bangladesh’s relatively small, flat land area provides strong incentive to demand and expect better of our national highway network.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
