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Signal lights duration to get shorter

Mukhlesur Rahman
The DMP proposed reducing the red light duration from 25 seconds to 15 seconds initially at intersections of three major thoroughfares in the capital to speed up vehicular movement.
The authority will also set up 43 bus bays across the city narrowing the footpaths to avert unnecessary congestion during picking up and drop off the bus passengers.
Joint Commissioner (traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Shafiqur Rahman told The Daily Star, "In a meeting with Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) authorities at DMP headquarters on December 7, we initially decided to resynchronise traffic signal lights on three roads -- VIP road, Mirpur road (from Science Lab to Technical) and Mohakhali diversion to Tongi Bridge."
The meeting decided that within a week from December 8, the DCC would complete synchronising the signal lights, he added.
Deputy commissioner (DC) Awlad Hossain told The Daily Star that on average the signal lights halt veJiicles for 25 seconds at the intersections. The meeting proposed to reduce the duration from 25 seconds to 15 seconds, he added.
For instance, he said, at Russel Square each signal halts vehicles for 25 seconds but the commuters using the intersections
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observed that if the light changes every 15 seconds it will help speed up traffic movement.
According to the proposal, periods between 6:00am to 10:00am and 2:00pm to 8:00pm will be treated as peak hours for traffic movement in place of the present hours between 8:00am to 11:00am and 5:00pm to 8.00pm, DMP sources said.
Joint Commissioner traffic Rahman said indiscriminate pauses by buses and minibuses are also a cause behind nagging jams.
"To check this tendency, we will go tough on the bus drivers responsible for stops outside of the designated stands," he said adding, "We reached a mutual understanding with the DCC that in the first phase they will arrange 43 bus bays across the city for the purpose."
He also mentioned that most of the roads in the capital are narrow for which the DCC will partially narrow down the footpaths to make space for the proposed bus bays.
On the third day of the new traffic rules yesterday the DMP filed 1,191 cases in connection with traffic rule violations and realised Tk 1,27,600 in fines. Some 16 drivers were arrested while driving licences of 43 were suspended for three months and 13 vehicles were detained.
Meanwhile, many drivers were seen maintaining lanes yesterday but a good number
of them are finding it difficult, as the left lanes remain jammed with vehicles in different intersections.
Around 3:30pm yesterday, private car driver Shaheen was seen unable to make left turn as another car in front was waiting at the signal blocking the lane.
The joint commissioner traffic said tire traffic congestion in the city has improved to some extent and once the commuters get accustomed to the rules the nagging Jam would ease.
He said they were to hold a meeting with traffic police personnel last night at DMP headquarters to evaluate the ongoing campaign for observing traffic rules.
The DMP campaign to enforce lane system on selected streets started on Tuesday. As per the new rule, changing lanes and ignoring signal lights would cost a driver Tk 1,000 in fines and three months' suspension of licence.