Development of Framework for Real-Time Transport Information Systems for Public Transport in Greater Dhaka

Dhaka

Context

Greater Dhaka is home to 17 million people and has been experiencing rapid urbanization since its independence in 1971. The population is expected to rise to by roughly 25 million by 2025. With a rising population alongside economic growth, the GHG emissions from the transport sector have been steadily increasing since 2005.

Around 70% of emissions from the transport sector come from roads, as the major modes of transport in Dhaka City are motorcycles (41%), rickshaws, and public buses. For people living in the city, buses and minibuses are the cheapest options. However, user satisfaction has been low due to long waiting and loading times, and distances from residences to bus stops. Therefore, existing urban transport system poses many challenges to daily commuters due to operational inefficiency, increased costs, loss of time, and air pollution.

It’s estimated that mitigation action in the transport sector would contribute to a 9.3% reduction in GHG emissions nationally by 2030, or up to 27% if additional support were to be received from developed countries. Bangladesh has planned to improve fuel efficiency by 5% unconditionally with an additional 15% conditional upon international support, bolstered by the improvement of road traffic congestion issues.

The Government of Bangladesh requested technical assistance from the CTCN to develop a framework for real-time transport information systems in greater Dhaka. Implementation of GPS data monitoring for public transport would significantly increase service quality for customers and provide additional value to service providers.

CTCN Support

The objective is to develop a framework for Real-Time Transport Information Systems for public transport in the Greater Dhaka area to ensure better performance and enhance reliability, safety, and service. The envisaged scope of work includes:

 1. Establishing a baseline through collection of data and information

2. Design of the overall system architecture

3. Development of the information services architecture in detail

4. Equipment, operations, and maintenance costs

Expected Impact

The technical assistance will optimize the use of public transport by providing real-time information on vehicle location, waiting time, and route information and ultimately contribute to a reduction in vehicle emissions and an improved and more accessible user experience. It will benefit women and children, who have faced increased levels of difficulty traveling via public transport to school and work. The technical assistance is aligned with Bangladesh’s Nationally Determined Contribution, which lists potential mitigation actions in the transport sector, including ‘introducing intelligent transport system based public transport management system to ensure better performance, enhance reliability, safety and service,’ and in its NDC implementation Roadmap (2018), support for ‘real-time information on public transport’ to help facilitate carbon reduction in the transport sector.

 

Facts

Date of submission
Geographical scope
Sub-national
Countries
Bangladesh
Objective
Mitigation
Phase
Completed
Sectors
Transport

Project details

Cross-sectoral enabler
Communication and awareness
Governance and planning
Request NDE
Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Implementors
Korea National University of Transportation Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
This technical assistance advances the following Sustainable Development Goals
CTCN
CTCN

Key documents