The Roads and Highways Department has a sustainable capacity to plan, manage and deliver its full range of responsibilities in respect of the main road and bridge network and to be accountable for these duties". The Assets of Roads and Highways Department have been conservatively estimated at Taka 46,000 crore (US$8,000 million) of which by far the largest proportion is the value of the 20,878 km of road and the 18,258 bridges. These assets are probably the greatest asset of any organization in Bangladesh and maintaining their value is vital to its economy.

Improved, safe and dependable public transport system significantly contributes to reducing use of personal cars and traffic congestion. Introduction of quality transports such as bus, rail and metro including dependable taxi services can provide a better public transport system. Besides, modernization of ticketing system can contribute to uninterrupted and dependable transport system. In recent years, public transport system have witnessed not only technological improvement and but also management efficiency. It is, therefore, possible to improve public transport system through introduction of articulated bus and rapid metro system operated under transit agencies. The policies in this sector are outline below: • Better and dependable mass transport system will be gradually developed in cities; • Improved and high occupancy buses will be added to the public transport system; • Routes of public transport system will be designed to meet the needs of citizens; • Low-income people will have access to public transport system; • Necessary measures will be taken to improve public transport system through route franchising; • Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system will be introduced as per recommendation of the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) and transit authorities will be created to run these transit system; • Digital ticketing system will be introduced in public transport system for easy transfer from one mode to another;

Sustainable Transport: Bangladesh Context Adequate transport infrastructure and services are prerequisite for sustainable economic and social development. Globalization now calls for more efficient transportation system to reduce travel time and costs. Road sector in Bangladesh is witnessing massive expansion with economic growth of the country. But unplanned transport system is damaging towns and cities and doing harms to the countryside. Future planning for transport sector must, therefore, ensure that the system is sustainable and environment friendly in the long run. The current structure of governance for the transport sector in cities is not equipped to deal with the problems of urban transport, with insufficient planning and coordination between the many agencies involved. As a result traffic congestion is increasing, especially in the Dhaka City. Following steps are being considered to get rid of the these problems: o The Government will strengthen concerned institutions for transport [City Corporation as well as Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC)] to facilitate more coordinated planning and take more effective measures in the light of ground reality; o Strategic Transport Plans will be drawn up for all major cities, in which the role of public transport will be emphasized. Such plans will also make recommendations for institutional reforms to enable successful implementation of plans; o Projects that are not consistent with ‘Strategic Transport Plan’ approved by DTCA will not be considered for implementation by city corporations in Dhaka City or by any other agency; o Transport related institutions will ensure that adequate coordination is effected between rail, water and road based modes of city transit systems and these institutions will engage in frequent public consultation so that public opinions are reflected in transport planning; o Urban transport plans will prioritize traffic management with a view to making best use of existing infrastructure and introduce Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in the in the long-run; o The Government will grant powers to appropriate institution to franchise routes for bus operation and to secure adequate facilities for bus operations; o Steps will be taken to create public awareness to limit the use of private cars and to increase the use of public transport; o The Government will attach highest priority on Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka City; o In order to reduce traffic congestion, the Government will start Mass Rapid Transit/Bus Rapid Transit lines on priority basis;

Roads and Highways Department, Government of Bangladesh Bangladesh Road Transport Authority