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STP draws flak from urban planners

Star Business Report
The Strategic Transport Plan (STP) faces fresh criticism for its proposal for shifting Kamalapur Railway Station out of the capital - a move which some urban planners say will increase traffic jams.
The government on August 28 launched the 20-year STP at a cost of $5.52 billion that suggests relocation of the prime railway station out of the city centre to ease traffic congestion.
But transport experts and urban planners said at a roundtable at National Press Club in Dhaka yesterday that the move, if implemented. would backfire
If the railway station is shifted, the passengers bound for the capital will have to use hundreds of small vehicles to arrive downtown, which will increase traffic congestion instead of lessening it. Mahabubui Bari, a transportation expert, said in his keynote presentation.
Save the Environment Movement. WBB TYust, an advocacy group, and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) co-organised the roundtable.
As train transportation is cheaper than other systems, policymakers should prioritise it in policy agenda, Bari emphasised.
TYains are not allowed into the capital from 8am to 9:30am and for
a further two hours from 4pm to help cut gridlock, Bari said. Effective traffic management could help cut traffic jams when trains use crossings, he said.
"Globally trains are an effective, efficient and mass transportation system. Without developing an effective train transportation sys-
tem, it is not possible to ease traffic jams in the capital," Bari told the roundtable.
"A single train carries as much goods from Dhaka to Chittagong in a single journey as it takes between 200 and 250 five-tonne-capacity trucks to do the same job," said Abu Naser Khan, chairman of Bangladesh Environment Movement, who moderated the discussion.
At the function, Buet Vice-chancellor Dr AMM Shafiullah urged the government to develop a public transportation system to reduce congestion.
Different companies have developed their own transportations to carry their employees due to undeveloped public transport systems, said Shafiullah, who attended the function as chief guest.
Most of those vehicles remain idle for most of the day and some limes parked on public roads, adding to traffic jams, he added.
Terming the present STP privatecar focused, the discussants also urged the government to change it in some areas before implementation, making it focused on people.