The automated signalling system, launched in Dhaka city about a month ago on trial basis, has hardly proved worthwhile as the traffic police continue to manage traffic flows manually.
Officials of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, the coordinating authority of the pilot, however, said that when road users would become accustomed to automated signalling, the system would go fully automated.
Automation efforts for Dhaka city鈥檚 traffic control, adopted in different times, met the same fate in the past.
At the time of the pilot鈥檚 launch at seven crossings in the city on August 30, officials said that the trial would run only for two weeks, but authorities said its time was extended.
Dhaka transport coordination authority executive director Neelima Akhter told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday that the pilot, sponsored by the two Dhaka city corporations, had been extended until further notice.
The seven crossings where the pilot is implemented are: InterContinental hotel, Banglamotor, Sonargaon hotel, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office, and Jahangir Gate.
All these crossings are situated on the corridor stretching from the Shikkha Bhaban area to the airport, having 22 crossings in total.
On Tuesday while visiting some of the crossings, drivers were found to follow the automated signals only when the traffic police instructed them to.
Some drivers and pedestrians, however, said that they felt confused when both automation and manual control occurred at the same spot.聽
Md Omar Faruk, a motorbike driver, told 抖阴精品 near the InterContinental hotel crossing that he had to keep attention both on the signals and the traffic police.
鈥榃hen the signal turns green I still look at the traffic policeman for his manual instruction and then I start,鈥� he added.
Sabiha Khatun, a pedestrian at Banglamotor crossing, also said that she crossed roads carefully following the manual instruction from the traffic policeman, although there was a signal.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police traffic division joint commissioner Abu Sufiyan Ahmed said that as at least the system had been introduced to the road users, they would eventually become habituated with the automation.聽
鈥業t will take one or two years for drivers to grow habituated with the signals,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥榖ut at least the system has been introduced which is much needed for traffic control in this city.鈥�
Neelima Akhter said that they were observing the system on daily basis through three teams.
When any organisation held demonstrations and huge gatherings the system collapsed, she said.
The officer also said that since their introduction, one of the signal machines broke down.
Neelima said that they were facing challenges as road users were taking time to get used to the system.
鈥榃e still need the police for traffic control,鈥� she said, adding, 鈥榳e want to reach that stage where these signals will run automatically without any police.鈥�
The officer added that they were working to install traffic signals at the rest of the 22 crossings within two months.
Earlier on August 28, the decision on the pilot was taken at a meeting held at the DTCA office with Sheik Moinuddin, the chief adviser鈥檚 special assistant to the ministries of road transport and railways, in chair.
According to the road transport and bridges ministry, the signalling system was developed in local technology.
Experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology gave advice and technical support for the pilot.
BUET experts also gave training to Dhaka Metropolitan Police members in this regard.
The automated traffic signalling system, introduced in 2001鈥�2002 in Dhaka city, has remained ineffective for the past several years with the traffic police handling the traffic manually.
Different initiatives, including the launch of timer countdowns, digital display boards, solar panels, remote control systems, and intelligent traffic system, costing crores of taka also proved futile.
