Understanding the Impact of Governance Frameworks on Transportation Resilience in Metropolitan Dhaka

Abstract

Transportation networks are considered to be the backbone of cities. The governance of a metropolitan city is highly dependent on the functionality of well-managed transport infrastructures and services, where the movement of people, goods and information plays a critical role. The transportation system of Dhaka is managed by a range of state agencies, including the City Corporation, Metropolitan Police, RAJUK, and DTCA. However, they are poorly interconnected and seldom interdependent. Such interdependencies not only question the efficiency of infrastructure management but also increase system vulnerability. The study employed a qualitative empirical method based on the interactions between four main agents: transport authority, public authorities, transport-specific conditions, and level of performance. This paper outlines the primary disruptions to transport systems resulting from the urban governance structures. It identifies that governance within metropolitan Dhaka is not a standalone process, but rather a number of transport and non-transport actors and institutions significantly influence the role, function, coverage, and quality of governance to a great extent at national, regional, sub-regional, and other levels, affecting stakeholders. Fragmented organizations and institutions, and their overlapping character, are the prime pressing problem that has been acknowledged. The study showcases six key organizations, including DMP, DTCA, RAJUK, DSCC, DNCC, and BRTA, that play a significant role in Dhaka's traffic governance. Theoretically, it has been argued that the key organizations managing the transport system or transport governance system should be aligned with DTCA, but DMP, DSCC, and DNCC are seen to have more control for compliance and performance. The outcome evidences transport resilience deeply rooted in non-transport networks, including the absence of role casting; all organizations involved in transport governance suffer from unclear institutional roles and limited functional assignments.