In Part two we were discussing some of the infrastructure of our city Melbourne. Here we discuss more and then we try to discuss about Dhaka Infrastructure.
Melbourne Airport also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne, and the second busiest airport in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the Melbourne metropolitan area.
The airport is 23 km (14 mi) from the city centre. This is adjacent to the suburb of Tullamarine. The Melbourne–Sydney air route is the third most-travelled passenger air route in the world and the third busiest in the Asia Pacific region. The airport features direct flights to 33 destinations in all states and territories of Australia in addition to numerous destinations in Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
Melbourne is the most common destination for the airports of five of Australia's seven other capital cities.N1 Melbourne serves as a major hub for Qantas and Virgin Australia, while Jetstar Airways and Tiger Airways Australia utilise the airport as home base. Melbourne is the busiest airport for international export freight as of August 2011, while second busiest for import freight. Domestically, Melbourne serves as headquarters for Australian air Express and Toll Priority and handles more domestic freight than any other airport in the nation. One International and three small regional Airports make Air Commuters fly in and fly out to and from Melbourne very smooth. The customs and other formalities at Airport are very friendly. The visitors have to sign disembarkation cards and customs declaration forms like any other Airports. The bag checking and other formalities are as smooth as any other international airports unless one carries contraband items or try to be smart in declaration. Metered Taxi and bus services connects Melbourne airport to city suburbs. Sky bus connects the Airport with Southern Cross Railway station from where travelers can easily avail train to destinations. Victorian government has taken up a plan to connect airport to railway system. 
Road and Railway communication of Melbourne is among the top of the world. Bus, train and tram (restricted Within City suburb) makes commuters life very comfortable. Railway network covers the greater parts of Metro Melbourne and V-Lines connect the city with country Victoria. The frequency of train service and the quality makes train the preferred mode for most of the CBD service professionals as movement in the city on office days can be a bit difficult and paid parking facilities are still in adequate. Tram services makes movement in the city very smooth. The introduction of Myki card like mobile phone sim cards makes ticketing system also very smooth. Students, seniors and concession card holders pay reduce price. The Myki cards work on touch on and touch off mode and can be to up when credit diminishes.
Owning a Car in Melbourne is very easy (Banks and Lending agencies are very generous). Cars can be purchased with a small down payment and easy monthly installments. But getting a license requires going through few hurdles. First one has to get a learner license, then practice and get probationary license and finally after passing tests or driving for few years get full license. Drivers are very cultured and law abiding in very well laid out roads. Road rules are simple and driving speeds, parking etc are strictly monitored. Infringements are severely dealt with. Plenty of insurance and road assists facilities are available.
Melbourne city is blessed with Yara River and Bass Strait. Riverine transportation of commodities and people is also very smooth. From Port Melbourne one can avail a voyage to Island state Tasmina on the “Dream of Tasmina”. This is about nine and half hour voyage and is a huge five start ferry service which almost all affluent citizens of Australia try to avail at least once in a life time.
Dhaka Infrastructure:
One must not try to compare the facilities of the number one city with number 139 yet for the sake of the write up will try to discuss. Dhaka is growing into a mega city with its 150 thousand people living in the concrete slum. The strategic geographical location could and still can make Dhaka an ideal air traffic hub as it is located in the cusp of Atlantic and the pacific route. A well located International Airport with modern facilities like Singapore or Dubai could change the face of the nation.
Airport:
Dhaka Hazrat ShahJalal International Airport (once known as Zia International Airport) is now become very congested and the suburbs around creates huge issues for air traffic movements. The runways and other facilities do not encourage major airliners fancy expanding their services there. In fact any foreign traveler or tourist get first impression of the country from the extent of professionalism in the airport as this is the gateway to the country. The hassles the air commuters gets while going through customs and getting the luggage makes commuters anxious, irritated and often frustrated. The scene outside the airport as any fist comer steps out beggars’ description. Hundreds and thousands of people coming to see off and receive their family members and guests have to struggle in the crowd. Lot of criminals, snatchers and muggers also make life very difficult. Many tourists and even many NRBs get their valuables lost and cheated. Dhaka is our own city, we do not feel good in writing all these about the airport but for the sake of projecting and promoting Bangladesh image, Dhaka must have a better located and better served airport with all modern facilities. Many international investors may like to build own and operate modern airport in Dhaka or anywhere suitably located in Bangladesh either under PPP or BOO basis. Shahjalal International Airport unfortunately is even barely enough to serve the purpose. I would strongly suggest for a new International Airport with all modern facilities built and in the interim period improve luggage delivery (conveyor belt system from Aircrafts those use boarding bridge), customs formalities, environment outside airport vastly improved. An overhead walkway or underground tunnel connection to Airport Railway station may also be built facilitating connection with the Railway station. Airport Railway station must also be upgraded and modernized.
Railway Communication:
When Kamalapur Railway station was launched in late sixties it was used to be termed as one of the best in South Asia. But in about 50 years since then it has possibly become one of the busiest but the least fancied in the region. In the overcrowded congested city the location and slums around the railway line through the city area has become unsuitable and for poor control and management of operation the station area has become seat of crime and unsocial activities. Various level crossings are reasons of major gridlocks in the city day and night. Bangladesh desperately needs major improvement of central railway station and railway system as a whole. All level crossings may be taken underground or flyovers must be built over each. The ticketing system must be modernized and strictly controlled. In this digital age ticketing can be digitized as well. The Melbourne Myki system can be replicated. I would suggest a Dhaka City Circular Railway in addition to Metro Rail project now under implementation. The railway services of Dhaka city if modernized can alone serve a great deal in easing and comforting miseries of city dwellers. But we feel it is impossible for government alone to serve this purpose. Private companies local and international must work under PPP for major upgrading of Railway system in and around Dhaka. If Dhaka city is served with fast moving modern shuttle trains with adjoining districts many people would move out of congested Dhaka and start living in adjoining districts easing pressure on limited utility services .
Roads and Highways
Road communication inside Dhaka and intercity communication with Dhaka and the rest of the country is in total mess. Dhaka as we know has about 8% roads while any modern city should have at least 20% area available for roads and highways. The roads are narrow and the pavements and footpaths are occupied. Thousands of motorized and non-motorized vehicles make unbearable gridlocks in the city making movement in the city nightmare during working hours on week days. In recent times when I visited Dhaka I preferred staying in Dhanmondi area rather than staying in my own apartment at Uttara as I used to spend at least 2-3 hours on the road while moving from Uttara to Kakrail or Kawranbazar. Government is desperately trying to confront the challenges through building flyovers and sky roads. Some flyovers are in operation but these have not made much of impacts. Unless Government can take most of the activities out of the city center and relocate several installations and facilities from the city center not even mega projects like Metro, Elevated Express Highways may serve the purpose. In the concluding part of this write up will make some suggestions which if possible to implement in phases can serve the purpose.
Dhaka city has three major intercity bus terminals which are now choke points and locations for toll collections and crimes. Various crime syndicates operating there create huge issues for innocent intercity travelers. Anyone who has experience of using Mahakhali, Jatrabari and Gabtali will agree with me about the pain and hassles every time they come across. These intercity bus terminals are required to come under modern management. Unfortunately every government uses these terminals as the major centers for toll collections for their party loyal. Even police and local administration turn blind eyes to social crimes held in and around intercity bus terminals. These should be modernized and taken out of present locations to remove the choke points of traffic movements.
Rivers and Riverine Movement:
All modern cities including Melbourne use its rivers, canals and waterways to serve its economic development. Dhaka had unique advantage having been encircled by four rivers Buriganga, Sitalkhya, Balu and Turag. Even Venice and Amsterdam were not blessed with many major canals that Dhaka once had flowing through the city. Unplanned urbanization killed most of the canals and grabbers have illegally occupied river banks and part of the rivers. Dumping of poisonous industrial wastes and flowing of sewerage and dirty waters have made the river waters unsuitable for any use. Unfortunately we now recovered mutilated dead bodies of murdered persons from Sitalakhya river rather that utilizing the river which once it helped Narayanganj become the Dundee of the east. Think of DND canal. What was its purpose and what it served?
Fortunately present government has taken many milestone projects to recover the rivers, canals and waterways. Haterrjheel project is a major milestone. We hope other city serving canals would also be recovered and all rivers would be freed from illegal occupations and dumping industrial wastes and sewerage will be stopped. If only rivers around Dhaka city can get their puberty back after recovery and capital dredging Dhaka can have city circular riverine transportation, city circular road and railway communication can be established. If canals can be recovered these will do a great deal in city beautification and ease water logging of the city. Treated river water and recycling water system can free Dhaka from using subsurface water use.
At present Sadarghat is the only riverine port from where people travel to various southern regions my riverine vessels. The river transportation is not well regulated or managed. Every year we witness launch capsize causing deaths of innocent people. Media creates temporary noises. But after some time people forget and again the incidents repeat. Government must work to better manage and control riverine transportation making it safe and secure. We do not think it at all difficult if government agencies honestly monitor and control licensing of launches and other riverine vessels and regulate ticketing system.
Mode of Transports:
We chemical engineers know that slowest step in a chain reaction determine the rate of the reaction. In case of Dhaka rickshaws work as essential nuisance. It may sound a bit cruel. But Dhaka must plan to phase out rickshaws primarily from city centers and in the long run from entire Dhaka city. We know it will directly or indirectly affect a huge section of floating population of the city. Government and NGO must work on how alternate job opportunities can be created for Rickshaw depended population (mostly Slum dwellers) of Dhaka city.
People in Dhaka must also develop habits of using non-motorized cycles. In major cities in city centers during office hours people do not use car, they either walk or wherever available use metro or tram. Dhaka is still far away from that. But people can walk. But for that city center area road foot paths and pavements must be freed from illegal occupation and during office hour’s buses, tracks and other motorized vehicles must not ply. Successive Government has failed to implement CNG program appropriately. Allowing CNG Using three wheelers and converting small vehicles to CNG has mushroomed CNG using vehicles in the city adding to the gridlocks. It has also stressed the fragile gas supply security. These must be phased out and replaced with large articulated CNG busses and Rapid Transit system. All footpaths and pavements must be freed and made available for pedestrians for walking. From now on only NGV vehicles should be given permissions to prefer for import and all CNG using three wheelers and smaller vehicles should be gradually phased out.
(To Be Continued)
** Living in the Heaven and the Hell
BDST:1111 HRS, AUG 24,2014
