Dialogue About Traffic Jam

One friend arrives two and a half hours late; the two discuss why the city jams and what might help.

A dialogue between Zarif and Ayan

Zarif: Ayan, you look exhausted. What time did you leave home?

Ayan: At half past seven. It is nearly ten now and I have only just arrived.

Zarif: Two and a half hours for eight kilometres?

Ayan: The bus did not move at all between Shyamoli and Farmgate. I could have walked it faster.

Zarif: Was there an accident?

Ayan: No, just the usual. Rain last night, and water still standing at two crossings.

Zarif: Why does a little water stop a whole road?

Ayan: It narrows the usable width, and one vehicle breaking down in it blocks everything behind.

Zarif: And there are simply too many vehicles for the road space.

Ayan: That is the real cause. Dhaka has a very small proportion of its area as road, far less than a planned city.

Zarif: Will the metro rail help?

Ayan: On its own route, certainly. But it cannot solve a whole city by itself; we need buses that run to a timetable too.

Zarif: Until then, what do you do?

Ayan: Leave earlier, and keep a book in my bag. There is no third option.