STUDY OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN SYLHET CITY

In Sylhet, newly born Metropolitan City of north eastern Bangladesh, faces severe traffic congestion due to rapid and uncontrolled development by an unacceptable level of disparity in transportation demand and supply scenario resulting in environmental degradation as well. To assess the severity of the existing traffic system engulfed by tremendous traffic congestion in Sylhet city a study was conducted by Civil and Environmental Engineering department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology throughout the year (2005-2006). In the study, traffic volume count, survey of road geometry and calculation of flow capacity, pedestrian count, household interview and questionnaire survey for counting travel time and trip generation was performed. Relevant secondary data was also collected. The study revealed that Ambarkhana to Chowhatta link, the core link of the city was found as the busiest, link, whereas, the Ambarkhana intersection was found to be the most critical one showing the maximum traffic volume at a rate of 9111 PCU/h. Two traffic congestion peaks, first at 11.00 to 12.00 mainly by office, business and education trips and the second at 17:00 to 18:00 due to business and shopping trips was observed. Traffic congestion mainly occurred by non-motorized vehicles (47 percent) such as rickshaw and pushcart, which was followed by tempo (15 percent), private car (14 percent). Illegal occupations on the roadside by hawkers, mobile shops etc. (34 percent) were among the major causes of traffic congestion in the city. Maximum pedestrian movement was found at Zindabazar to Chowhatta link running through the only busy commercial zone of the city. The Roadway Congestion Index (RCI) of 2.36 indicated the severity of traffic congestion of Sylhet City. Such a detailed scenario of the traffic paradigm of the urban conglomeration of a developing country is depicted in this paper.