Underground railway
A. Abad, Dhaka
The propensity to go for huge mega projects by the authorities should not be encouraged; as we are a developing country, without political consensus at the national level, lack of discipline, and entrenched corrupt practices. Bangladesh has requested Japan for underground railway for metropolis Dhaka city. The feasibility study may carefully note that Dhaka is located in a delta region, surrounded by marshy, low land and blocked water bodies, and too many multi-storey buildings have come up in an unscientific manner, due to false documentation. Also, due to excessive number of deep tube wells in the city, there is danger of the ground level not remaining level after each decade, and some buildings might tilt. Add the earthquake factor, however small.The capital cost, operation and maintenance of subway is high, year after year. Add erratic power supply, and various systems losses at different official levels. Note the mass created in London of 7/7 bombing. This is the age of terrorism; this factor should be visible in the concept paper. Japan can provide high-tech system, but the locals have to run it. In the tropical countries, it is better and cheaper to go for elevated local train network in the first phase, (mass psychology also comes in); and then go for subway trains in the second phase (having completed the project homework). Uttara-Dhaka elevated train may be the first pilot project, for evaluation. Step by step--how far we have progressed in 34 years? Simultaneously, we have to optimise the use of coal for power generation (we forgot abut it, like step parents, after we started using natural gas for several decades; plus the greenhouse effect cap by the industrialised nations, which the mighty USA continues to ignore). Solar power and lighting kits for the rural areas is not being publicised by the planners. Where is the local assembly plant? We have to be careful about mega-tender paranoia.
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