Dhaka’s chaotic streets are being given another chance at order not through force, but through patience, public awareness, and persistence. As the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) reactivates 178 traffic signals across the capital in an experimental rollout since 31 August, its Executive Director, Neelima Akhtar, is urging citizens to adapt gradually to the system, acknowledging that behavioural change, not technology, will determine its success.
For decades, traffic signals in the megacity have flickered uselessly amid a sea of unruly vehicles and pedestrians. Despite hundreds of crores of taka invested in infrastructure since independence, enforcement has remained weak, and compliance almost non-existent. Traffic police often abandon automated systems altogether, resorting to hand signals as if the lights above them were mere decorations. This time, however, authorities insist the effort is different — more collaborative, more technically grounded, and more focused on winning public cooperation than imposing top-down control.
Speaking to Jago News, Neelima Akhtar did not shy away from the scale of the challenge. “We’re identifying several problems as we go,” she admitted. “The biggest disruption is coming from pedestrians. Even with signals and zebra crossings in place, people are still running across roads mid-flow. It’s incredibly difficult to enforce laws when basic pedestrian discipline is absent.”
She pointed out that vehicles — from private cars to rickshaws — are also routinely ignoring red lights. But rather than relying solely on punitive measures, DTCA is prioritising public awareness campaigns. “This isn’t just about technology or enforcement — it’s about behaviour change. People need to get used to this system gradually. We can’t expect perfection from day one. What we need is patience, participation, and repeated messaging.”
The signals themselves — developed domestically by engineers at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) — are being fine-tuned in real time. A joint team from DTCA, BUET, the City Corporations, and the Police Traffic Division is monitoring performance. “Some technical flaws have surfaced — as expected in any pilot phase — but they’re being identified and rectified immediately,” Akhtar said. “The BUET team is responsive and committed.”
One persistent structural issue, however, lies beyond software: the open road dividers surrounding signalised intersections. Pedestrians easily bypass them, rendering crossings ineffective. The police have recommended installing fences to channel foot traffic — a sensible solution, Akhtar agreed, but one constrained by budget. “Suddenly fencing every intersection is expensive. We’re mapping the most critical zones first, prioritising based on accident data and pedestrian volume. Change won’t happen overnight.”
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is rolling out CCTV cameras at key signals to automatically ticket vehicles that jump red lights. While this may deter drivers, Akhtar raised a crucial concern: “What about the people? What about the mother carrying her child across a six-lane road because there’s no safe crossing? Or students sprinting between buses?”
She called on the media to step in where enforcement cannot reach. “We need a national campaign — not just government notices, but emotional, relatable messaging through TV, radio, social media, and schools. Stories that humanise the cost of traffic indiscipline. Not just statistics — real faces, real losses.”
Acknowledging public scepticism — after years of failed initiatives — Akhtar struck a tone of realism, not rhetoric. “I understand the disappointment. I feel it too. But what can I say — if this doesn’t work, what else can we demand from ourselves? You know the challenges; I know them too.”
She emphasised that this is not about instant transformation, but incremental habit-building. “We want people to see the signal, respect the signal, and eventually obey the signal — not because they fear a camera or a fine, but because they understand it protects their child, their commute, their life.”
Success, she stressed, won’t be measured in days, but in months and years — and it won’t be achieved by DTCA alone. It requires police, educators, community leaders, media, and every citizen who steps onto Dhaka’s streets.
“People need to get used to the new traffic signals gradually,” she repeated. “And we, as authorities, need to get better at listening, adapting, and persisting.”
As Dhaka’s experiment unfolds, the city’s future may hinge less on the glow of green, amber, and red — and more on whether its 20 million residents are finally ready to look up, slow down, and let the signals guide them home.