A Study on Traffic Volume and Composition at Dhanmondi 32 Intersection

Abstract

Traffic congestion is an important problem in urban regions especially in areas with high traffics like congested junctions where different means of transport interact. This research is about the traffic volume and composition at one of Dhaka, Bangladesh most important junctions, that is the Dhanmondi 32 intersection. The research will determine flow patterns of traffic as well as distributions of vehicles and the levels of congestion with a view of identifying the factors that affect mobility. Data was collected through manual traffic counting and video analysis over multiple time slots, covering peak and off-peak hours. The study groups vehicles under private cars, motorcycles, buses, rickshaws, bicycles, and freight vehicles, examining their contribution towards congestion. Results indicate that private cars and motor cycles during the peak hours (31-34%) and during off-peak hours (26%) dominate the traffic situation. Non-motorized vehicles, rickshaws and bikes contribute more to the situation of delays during the off-peak hours than the actual off peak hours. Although public buses have an important role to play, they are not usually characterized by proper stop management that further aggravates the congestion. Important issues of traffic are identified in the study, namely, inefficient signal coordination, lack of special tracks, as well as uncontrolled movement of pedestrians. From the findings, recommendations include making dedicated lanes for motorcycles and non-motorized vehicles (NMVs) having optimized signal timing, having designated bus bays, and improved pedestrian infrastructure to make the roads efficient and safe. This research is data-driven to guide urban planners, policymakers, and administration in charge of traffic in the city life as to how to decongest and enhance mobility at the Dhanmondi 32 intersection. Adoption of the proposed measures can help create a more disciplined, secure, as well as efficient urban transportation in Dhaka.