News Flash
DHAKA, May 13, 2025 (BSS) – The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have jointly completed a pilot project to ensure safe pedestrian crossing in Mirpur 2 under the Dhaka Road Traffic Safety Project (DRSP).
The project –- undertaken from April 20 to May 8 at the zebra crossing in front of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Mirpur College in Mirpur -- was implemented successfully.
The project, which ran from 8:00am to 12:00pm daily, has played a significant role in increasing pedestrian safety during peak hours, Deputy Commissioner of the DMP and its spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman told BSS.
The main objective of the project was to address safety challenges such as unsafe crossings, insufficient crossing points, illegal parking, and stopping buses at zebra crossings in selected areas of Mirpur 2.
Besides, coordinated steps were taken to ensure safe movement of pedestrians around healthcare and educational institutions.
Talebur said that the pilot project received widespread appreciation from the public and many pedestrians expressed interest in expanding the initiative to other areas of Dhaka.
Coordination between the DMP and DNCC and cooperation with local people, National Heart Foundation Hospital, OBS Eye Hospital and Mirpur College are among the keys to this success, he mentioned.
Based on the success of the project, DMP and DNCC are planning to install permanent traffic signals in Mirpur 2, conduct regular pilot activities to ensure the efficiency of push-button traffic lights, and take collaborative steps with BRTA, BRTC and DTCA to implement this model in other areas of Dhaka.
Incidentally, the Dhaka Road Traffic Safety Project (DRSP) is a technical cooperation project of DMP and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
This initiative is an important step towards transforming Dhaka into a safer and pedestrian-friendly city.
Notable steps of the project include-
Public Awareness Campaign: Awareness about safe crossing rules has been raised among pedestrians by distributing leaflets, installing banners and signboards. Specific instructions have been provided for drivers and pedestrians.
School Education Programmes: Practical training was organized for students of nearby schools, where they learned safe crossing using push-button signals.
Data Collection: A comprehensive survey was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the project and gather public opinion.
Road Infrastructure Development: DNCC has made zebra crossings wide and clearly marked. Drivers have been warned through signposts, rumble strips and markings on the roads.
Installation of Traffic Signals: Portable traffic signal lights with push-buttons were installed for pedestrians, which enabled them to cross safely.
Traffic Police and Support Group: DMP Traffic Police and Traffic Support Group (TSG) members played an active role in assisting pedestrians and enforcing the rules.
