A Policy Proposal for Dhaka

Dhaka Deserves
to Move.

Millions lose 2+ hours a day to gridlock that chokes the economy and poisons the air. Road pricing cut congestion 30% in London, 20% in Stockholm, and has kept Singapore moving for decades. Dhaka is next.

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The Problem

2+ Hours Stuck.
Every. Single. Day.

Dhaka is one of the slowest cities on Earth. Traffic jams cost the economy billions, poison the air, and steal time from families.

6–15
km/h average speed in the city
2+ hrs
daily commute time wasted
Toxic
air quality from idling engines
Billions
in lost economic productivity (BDT)
Deafening
noise pollution from excessive honking caused by overuse of road space
The Solution

Pay for Roads
Like Electricity.

Road pricing means you pay based on how much road space you actually use — not for simply owning a vehicle. It's fair, efficient, and proven worldwide.

Location-Based

Fees depend on which zone you drive through — the most congested areas cost more.

Time-Based

Peak hours cost more. Off-peak and night driving is cheap or free — incentivizing smarter travel times.

Size Matters

Larger, slower vehicles occupy more road space and pay proportionally more. Compact vehicles are rewarded.

Revenue for Transit

Every taka collected funds metro expansions, new buses, and better roads for everyone.

Emergency Vehicles Free

Licensed ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles are fully exempt — always.

Proven Globally

London cut congestion 30%. Stockholm saw 20% fewer cars. Singapore pioneered it decades ago.

Zones & Timing

Fair Pricing.
Targeted Relief.

Three zones match Dhaka's congestion levels. Pricing adjusts by time of day to smooth out the rush.

Zone A — High Congestion

Core Business Districts

Motijheel, Paltan, Old Dhaka — densest traffic from offices, markets, and narrow streets. Highest fees.

Zone B — Moderate Congestion

Inner Mixed Areas

Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Banani, Karwan Bazar — residential and commercial mix with frequent bottlenecks.

Zone C — Low Congestion

Outer Suburbs

Mirpur, Uttara, Savar — wider roads but growing commuter traffic. Lowest fees.

Time Period Hours Level Pricing
Peak Hours 7:00–10:00 AM & 5:00–8:00 PM High Demand Full rate
Off-Peak 10:00 AM–5:00 PM & 8:00–10:00 PM Moderate 50% of peak
Night 10:00 PM–7:00 AM Low 20% of peak
Vehicle Pricing

Bigger Vehicle,
Bigger Responsibility.

Charges reflect the road space you occupy and how fast you move. Smaller, faster vehicles pay less.

Vehicle Area (m²) Avg Speed Factor Peak (A / B / C) Off-Peak (A / B / C) Night (A / B / C)
Bicycle
1.5 10 km/h 0.6 ৳60 / ৳40 / ৳20 ৳30 / ৳20 / ৳10 ৳10 / ৳5 / ৳0
Rickshaw
2.5 8 km/h 1.3 ৳130 / ৳90 / ৳50 ৳70 / ৳50 / ৳30 ৳20 / ৳10 / ৳0
CNG (Auto)
3.0 15 km/h 0.8 ৳80 / ৳60 / ৳30 ৳40 / ৳30 / ৳20 ৳10 / ৳5 / ৳0
Motorbike
2.0 20 km/h 0.4 ৳40 / ৳30 / ৳20 ৳20 / ৳15 / ৳10 ৳5 / ৳0 / ৳0
Car
8.0 12 km/h 2.7 ৳270 / ৳190 / ৳140 ৳140 / ৳100 / ৳70 ৳50 / ৳30 / ৳10
Truck
15.0 10 km/h 6.0 ৳600 / ৳420 / ৳300 ৳300 / ৳210 / ৳150 ৳100 / ৳70 / ৳30
Bus
20.0 10 km/h 8.0 ৳800 / ৳560 / ৳400 ৳400 / ৳280 / ৳200 ৳150 / ৳100 / ৳50

Base: ৳100/km Zone A peak. Zone B: −30%. Zone C: −50%. Off-peak: 50%. Night: 20%. Emergency vehicles: always ৳0.

Efficiency Rewards

Share the Ride.
Share the Savings.

Cars with 3+ passengers get 50% off. Solo drivers pay 50% more. The system rewards efficient road use and penalizes waste.

Solo Driver (1 person)
৳405 /km
50% surcharge — occupying space for 5 but carrying 1
Carpool (4 people)
৳135 /km
50% discount — efficient use, just ৳33.8 per person

Did you know? Cars make up 28% of Dhaka's vehicles but carry few passengers. Buses are just 2% of vehicles but carry 49% of all passengers. This system pushes behavior toward efficient transport.

Rollout Plan

Start Small.
Scale Smart.

A phased approach starts with a manageable pilot, learns from data, builds trust, and expands citywide over 4+ years.

1
Year 1 — Pilot

Gulshan & Banani Pilot

Start in affluent, high-congestion neighborhoods with clear boundaries for easy tollgate setup.

  • 4–6 manual tollgates at main entry points
  • Day passes: ৳500–1,000 · Week: ৳2,000–4,000 · Month: ৳8,000–15,000 · Year: ৳80,000–150,000
  • Residents get 50% subsidized passes
  • Target: 10–20% reduction in peak cars
2
Years 2–3 — Expansion

Full Zone B + Zone A Entry

Extend to Dhanmondi, Karwan Bazar, Motijheel fringes. Add 10–15 more tollgates.

  • Tiered pricing by vehicle type & time
  • Online purchase via mobile apps & kiosks
  • Invest early revenue in public bus routes
3
Years 4+ — Citywide

Full Dhaka Coverage

50+ tollgates across all zones. Optionally add electronic tags for faster lanes.

  • 20–30% overall congestion reduction target
  • Revenue funds extended MRT lines
  • Continuous feedback via public surveys
FAQ

Your Questions.
Honest Answers.

We know you have concerns. Here are straightforward answers to the most common ones.

No. The system includes subsidies for low-income users like rickshaw pullers and daily wage earners via digital wallets or exemptions. Residents in priced zones get 50% off passes. And the revenue directly funds public transport — buses and metro — which the majority of lower-income commuters rely on. This actually helps the poor by making buses faster and more reliable.

Yes. London's congestion charge cut traffic by 30%. Stockholm saw a 20% reduction. Singapore has used road pricing for decades with consistent results. The evidence is overwhelming — when driving costs reflect real impact, people make smarter choices.

All licensed emergency vehicles — ambulances, fire trucks, and police — are completely exempt. They pay ৳0 across all zones, all times. No exceptions.

Initially through simple passes (day, week, month, or year) checked at physical tollgates by attendants — just like existing highway tolls. Over time, the system can upgrade to apps, ANPR cameras, or electronic tags. The technology is deliberately kept simple at first to ensure smooth adoption.

The pass system minimizes tollgate delays — most regular users will have weekly or monthly passes displayed as stickers, requiring only a quick visual check. The pilot starts with just 4–6 gates in a bounded area, and real-world data from the pilot will optimize gate placement before expansion.

Revenue is earmarked for public transport improvements: metro expansions, new bus fleets, road maintenance, and infrastructure. This creates a virtuous cycle — better alternatives make it easier for people to leave their cars at home, further reducing congestion.

Building roads in one of the world's densest cities is nearly impossible — and research shows new roads actually induce more traffic (induced demand). The smarter approach is making existing roads work better by managing demand. Road pricing does exactly that.

Take Action

Demand Better Roads.
Demand Action.

This isn't a dream. It's a proven policy used worldwide. Dhaka's leaders have the power to make this happen — but only if we demand it.

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📢 Tell your representative:

"I support road pricing for Dhaka. Start the pilot in Gulshan & Banani. Use the revenue for public transport. Our city deserves to move."

Join the Conversation

Shape This Policy.
Together.

This proposal is open source — and so is the conversation. Share local knowledge, challenge assumptions, propose improvements, or ask questions.

Propose Ideas

Suggest better pricing models, equity safeguards, rollout strategies, or new features for the site.

Ask Questions

Wondering how road pricing works, or why a certain approach was chosen? Ask and get answers.

Share Knowledge

Live in Dhaka? Share what you know about commute patterns, traffic hotspots, or transport gaps.
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