Imagine you need to get to a destination in Dhaka quickly. You walked onto the roadway and noticed a massive traffic gridlock on the road. What if you could book a chopper right away using a mobile app?
Yes, in 2017, a similar service was launched in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A company named ‘Voom’ has launched this service. Anyone can reach the destination by helicopter by avoiding traffic jams using an app. Users do not have to pay ‘much’ for the service. Their service fee is $150 for 20 miles of road.
Interestingly, the number of people taking this helicopter service is increasing day by day. A good example is the Brazilian TV channel Globo. This TV channel’s journalists have pushed the approach of gathering news utilizing this service to a new level. This service may appear to be costly at first sight. But when you can reach the audience in the fastest time by exchanging money first, it does not seem that it will look very bad. That’s why people are not surprised to see helicopters flying on the main streets of Sao Paulo these days.
The Dhaka Samachar
Dhaka may have the world’s fifth-worst traffic, according to the global database Numbeo’s Traffic Index by City 2023.
Dhaka was ranked ninth most crowded in 2022, with a time index (average one-way time needed to transport) of 57.8 minutes, which has recently increased to 61 minutes.
In a megacity like Dhaka, where traffic management is still primitive and road infrastructure is deteriorating, there are 1.81 million registered vehicles in the capital alone and a population of over 22 million.
In 2018, research by Buet’s Accident Research Institute found that traffic in Dhaka lost 5 million work hours and cost the country’s economy Tk37,000 crore. Another study conducted by the government’s BIDS and the Dhaka-based think tank Policy Research Institute (PRI) estimates that 6–10% of the nation’s GDP is annually wasted as a result of traffic congestion.
Recently, the elevated expressway in Dhaka has been introduced to reduce traffic congestion. But in truth, every day, the number of cars is expanding along with the population in a major city like Dhaka.
Dhaka’s impassable roadways, poor road management, and uncontrolled urbanization have driven Dhaka to this conclusion. Therefore, Dhaka may never completely experience the benefits of the elevated highway and the metro rail project launched the previous year.
Joyride or Need?
Intra-city chopper service is to be launched soon in Bangalore. The service will be introduced by a company called ‘BLADE’. On October 10, the services will be made available.
“Fliers can now choose a fast 15-minute flight over the agonizing 120-minute trip in traffic,” the company announced.
The question is, what is the status of the chopper service in Bangladesh?
Interestingly, in the 1960s, there was a helicopter service from Dinajpur to Dhaka! The average ticket price was Rs 25. At that time, the helicopter fare from Dhaka to Comilla was Tk 12, Chandpur was Tk 15, and Barishal was Tk 35. It was the world’s largest commercial helicopter service, according to the authority.
Although the helicopter service of the general public of the 1960s has not returned, helicopter service can now be taken on rent in the country. Initially, these helicopters were approved for private use, but they are also providing commercial services. Now, 30 helicopters from about 10 companies are providing commercial service in the country. However, they usually offer a charter service.
In the first week of July 2023, for the first time after independence, a helicopter service was started on the Chittagong-Sandwip route under a private initiative. The company named ‘Chittagong Helicopter and Air Service’ took on this endeavor. This air service has been launched in Chittagong to fulfill the tastes of the people for just Rs 4,999. Besides, it will cost Tk 9,999 to travel from Chittagong to Dhaka or Cox’s Bazar.
So the fact is, in a crowded and traffic-clogged city like Dhaka, an inter-city chopper service can be a timely solution. At first, this service might seem expensive. However, both the consumer and the service provider can profit from this service commercially and professionally. And Dhaka must become more sophisticated to compete in the modern world. The biggest impediment to this progress is traffic congestion. On the one hand, inter-city chopper service will save hours of work while also contributing to Dhaka’s transformation into a contemporary megacity.
To read more blogs, #click here.
Writer,
Dipta Biswas
Intern,Content Writing Department,
YSSE