Dhaka's growing traffic gridlock prompted me to assess what other cities do to manage flow. Singapore recently decided to adopt a zero percent private car population growth. New car buyers are required, through a system of bidding, to buy a Certificate of Entitlement which is valid for ten years. Then the car is phased out. Furthermore, Singapore's tax policy makes a mid-range car cost roughly four times its price in the USA!

In lieu of owning private cars, the government's plans include investing 20 billion Singapore Dollar in new rail infrastructure, 4 billion Singapore Dollar to upgrade and expand rail operating assets, and 4 billion Singapore Dollar in bus contracting subsidies.

The GoB has shown some foresight in providing transportation alternatives via metro rail. But is it going to be enough? Will it adequately meet point-to-point service? And can the construction be sped up, keeping in view the cost-time-quality trade-off? Concurrently, can old cars be phased out, perhaps adopting a negative private car growth policy? Building multi-storied parking capacity in critical zones and improving walking space would be a boon if the negative impacts (on health, opportunity costs, productivity, pollution) are to be systematically eliminated.

Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Pennsylvania State University, USA

Former Vice Chancellor, BRAC University