About solving Dhaka's overcrowding and jams, we read and hear more about the proposed solutions, than see what is actually being done physically (action).

One suspected area of weakness appears to be the approach to the planning concepts to be adopted, before the detailed project planning is taken up for budgetary estimates. There are two oasic areas to tackle: human aspects and the physical Infrastructure (development project).

To cite an example, we hear a lot about the proposed construction of a number of pedestrian overhead crossings or bridges. The other is the flyovers for vehicular traffic. What is more urgent is to clear the footpaths first for use by the pedestrians: by removing the impediments on the crowded pavements (hawkers, shop extensions, vendors, temporary blockages, unauthorised use, etc). This is the human problem. The political decisions naturally go slow on this aspect (loss of popularity, and facing unpleasantness). For good governance, the popularity syndrome has to go. Get tough (morally also!)

Road crossing is not the first priority. The cheaper and

quicker method is level zebra crossing (some zebras in Tokyo are 100 ft in depth; the width depends on the road). Going up to cross a road has psychological barriers; and many try short-cuts (therefore the road fences are put up to a great distance. to take care of human frailties).

Another example is reduction of the vehicle density on the roads. According to surveys, a large percentage of the vehicles are unauthorised, and the majority of the drivers have no authority to drive. What the authority or administration are doing? Practically nothing — there is black-out on these mea; surest How many thousands of vehicles and drivers have been prosecuted, and barred from using the roads? No satisfactory figures; and no campaigns several times a year

Another area: enforcement must be enforced forcefully, for visible and deterrent results Who supervise enforcement (the Inspectors don't work, we know), and what are they doing (we are aware of the limitations)? The respect for law has eroded, as sense of duty has evaporated Why and how? How to bring it back? Ask the politi-

cians and the bureaucrats, who run the show. How acceptable are the efficiency and the standard of the civil service? We are using British-based rules and regulations. Some may be outdated, but the quality is time-tested for centuries. The law must be re-made deterrent ("if I can get away with it, I will do It").

The congestion will be dramatically and visibly reduced if the human factors are tackled first. Why political decisionmaking is so lop-sided? On the other hand, solutions are sought in physical solutions. Pervading indiscipline is being ignored. Who brought about this taste for indiscipline? Touch my heart — ask tne politicians! Of course, development projects have to be taken up for the expanding cities (urban migration). but how about 'first things first ? Crabs crawl sideways, why should we?

Political culture today is on the top of the list, status-wise. But it is passing through the nadir at present, thanks to the epidemic of political movements In the 90s. We have learnt many vices and virtues, but what have we unlearned? We are looking hazily at the political leadership but they do not seem to be delivering.