In 2003, U.S. troops invaded Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, dealing a heavy blow to the once-bustling city. A local study in Iraq shows that about 60 per cent of roads in Baghdad are damaged to varying degrees, and traffic congestion is a serious problem.
Mi Chunze: I am now near Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad, and it is about 14 o'clock local time. Behind me, although it is not rush hour, the traffic on the surrounding roads can be said to be very congested. This kind of congestion has become a normal situation in Baghdad City, seriously affecting the travel and life of local citizens.
Baghdad citizen: It takes me an hour to an hour and a half to commute to work every day, but without congestion, the actual journey takes only half an hour or even just 15 minutes.
According to a 2020 survey, Baghdad ranks 11th in the world for the most congested cities, with an average congestion index of 40%. This means that Baghdad citizens spend an extra 40% of their time on daily travel compared to no congestion. During rush hour, Baghdad's traffic congestion index rises to 69%, and the cost of commuting time increases significantly. A local study in Iraq shows that the streets of Baghdad are still poorly maintained due to the collapse of local infrastructure and the paralysis of the public transport system due to the destruction of local infrastructure in 2003. The report notes that about 60 per cent of roads in Baghdad are damaged to varying degrees.
Taxi driver Dia Rahim: The streets are not changing much, but cars are increasing and vehicle imports are rising. Solutions must be found to these problems, such as opening new roads, bridges, building traffic posts, and so on.
In order to change the long-term problem of traffic congestion in Baghdad after the war, officials from the General Directorate of Transport of the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior said that the Iraqi government will regulate vehicle imports and expand the scale of road infrastructure in Baghdad to effectively ease local traffic.
Brigadier General Keith, Director of Public Relations and Media, General Directorate of Transport, Iraq: We will gradually open the streets that have been under lockdown since 2003 to ease traffic and coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce and Trade to regulate the import and sale of vehicles. Every street that is opened and every bridge that is built will help alleviate traffic congestion.
Mi Chunze: In early April this year, Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani announced that three major infrastructure projects would be implemented to alleviate the long-term traffic congestion problem in the capital Baghdad. It is believed that with the effective advancement of the traffic relief project, the travel problems of Baghdad citizens will be effectively improved.
Source: CCTV News Client