Evolution of Transportation Institutions and Policy Provisions in Dhaka City From 1960–2017

Abstract

Cities in the global south, with their limited resources, are struggling to provide adequate transportation infrastructures to the rapidly growing urban population. As a result of limited land and resource availability and convoluted geopolitical importance, Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is struggling to serve the ever-growing demand created by the rising population. Despite the ongoing construction of the metro rail and other mass transit options, the city is under pressure to meet the increased demand, and the problem is constantly growing. Multiple institutions, including a dedicated transportation coordination authority, are operating on improving the existing system. The institutional arrangement and the role of the institutions have changed in the past fifty years. In this study, we examined the institutional arrangements of the city’s transportation system and reviewed how this institutional landscape has changed during this time. We also reviewed the policies that guided transportation development during the same period. Through a three-step review and interview approach- database search, library and archive materials review, and expert interviews, we identified four ministries and ten authorities directly connected with the city's road-based transportation system. Due to the contrast in their vision, organizational structure, and jurisdiction, these authorities are often baffled with their responsibilities, which causes a mismanaged development pattern and duplication of activities. Historically, these institutions embarked on providing modern transportation services through diverse strategic approaches, infrastructure developments, and policies to ensure mobility and accessibility. However, most of these attempts were inefficient primarily due to the lack of coordination among the regulatory institutions and the inconsistent implementation process. This study recommended better equipping the existing coordinating authority and bringing other institutions under their jurisdiction to improve the city's transportation system.