In an effort to bring order to Dhaka’s chaotic traffic system, the government has launched a fresh initiative to install new signal lights at 22 key intersections stretching from the High Court to Shahbagh–Bijoy Sarani and up to the airport, with technical assistance from BUET.So far, traffic signals have been set up at seven intersections and placed under a two-week trial from August 31. However, multiple technical glitches have already emerged, forcing traffic police to continue relying on the traditional method of hand signals.

Until now, most signal lights in Dhaka were imported. For the first time, these signals have been developed using local technology, with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) leading the initiative, BUET serving as consultant, city corporations as implementation authorities, and the police as enforcement agencies. The cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 18 crore.

A DTCA meeting chaired by Dr. Sheikh Moinuddin, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, decided to start the trial at Hotel Intercontinental, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, the Chief Adviser’s Office, and Jahangir Gate. Alongside, leaflets and television campaigns are being used to raise public awareness among drivers and pedestrians.

Field Observations: Signals On, But Drivers Ignore Them

A field visit on Tuesday (September 2) revealed that many of the new signals are either malfunctioning or ignored by road users.

• Jahangir Gate (8:30 AM): Four signals were showing red lights, yet vehicles moved freely, directed instead by constables using hand gestures.

• Chief Adviser’s Office: Despite red lights glowing, vehicles from Agargaon and Farmgate moved ahead unhindered, while others stopped only at the instruction of traffic police.

• Bijoy Sarani (8:34 AM): No signal lights were operational, leaving hundreds of vehicles at a standstill, controlled solely by hand signals.

• Farmgate & Karwan Bazar: Signals installed but inactive.

• Banglamotor (9:01 AM): Despite green signals on Shahbagh-bound lanes, vehicles from the opposite direction proceeded.

• Hotel Intercontinental: Signals functioned correctly, but lighter traffic minimized problems. An automated system operated here under manual supervision by a dedicated operator.

Stakeholder Reactions

Rajib Khadem, Superintendent Engineer of DSCC’s Traffic Engineering Circle, noted that BUET developed the technology, while the city corporations are responsible for installation and maintenance.

Drivers remain unaware of the system’s functionality. Liton Roy, a bus driver, said:
“In Dhaka, traffic lights turn on and off randomly. We can’t tell which ones work. We follow police hand signals because that’s the only certainty. If signals become effective, it will reduce chaos.”

Kazi Md. Zobaer Masud, Office Secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, welcomed the initiative:
“Without signals, vehicles move in a disorganized way. New traffic lights are positive. But we haven’t been officially informed whether they are active, so drivers are not following them yet.”

Tejgaon Traffic Division DC Md. Rafiqul Islam admitted to technical issues:
“These signals are on a trial basis. We are finding faults such as improper timing and faulty modes. Corrections are underway. Within two weeks, they should be fully operational.”

DTCA Executive Director Nilima Akhter added:
“BUET is correcting the technical glitches promptly. The bigger challenge is making pedestrians and drivers follow the rules. Pedestrians often cross from the middle of the road, ignoring signals.”

BUET professor and traffic expert Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman said:
“Some glitches are normal at the start, but we know the technology inside-out and can fix issues quickly. The signals are locally built with basic-level technology suitable for our conditions. They can be operated both manually and automatically depending on traffic pressure.”

A History of Failed Attempts

Traffic signals are not new to Dhaka, but past attempts have mostly failed:

• First introduced in the 1960s, they became defunct during the Liberation War.

• Between 1999 and 2005, 68 intersections were fitted with World Bank-funded signals, all of which became nonfunctional by 2009.

• Another World Bank-funded project later installed signals at 51 intersections, but they too failed.

• From 2014 to 2018, Japan’s JICA financed “smart” AI-enabled signals at four intersections, but those are also nonfunctional today.

Currently, Dhaka has traffic lights installed at 178 intersections, but only the Gulsan-2 circle remains functional.

Against this backdrop, the interim government’s new initiative aims to finally establish a sustainable and locally-driven signal system along Dhaka’s busiest corridor. Officials say once the ongoing trial resolves technical flaws, the system will be formally inaugurated.