Frequent plying of heavy vehicles including trucks and buses on the city streets instead of the bypass roads has triggered the traffic congestion and road accidents in the Sylhet metropolis.
Unfortunately, they are frequently using the city streets ignoring the government order along with violating the traffic rules causing accidents with casualties one after another.
The 20-kilometre district bypass road that was built at a cost of Tk 220 crore in 2006 in order to make the city streets free from plying heavy vehicles has now become useless. Most of the passenger buses and goods-laden trucks running between Sylhet and other parts of the country via Sylhet have been instructed for using the bypass road.
Apart from this, Sylhet Development Authority (RDA) has constructed two separate terminals one for inter-district buses and another for truck along the bypass road at Shaporan by spending around Tk 10 cr for freeing the city from traffic jam.
According to sources, very small number of buses and trucks are using the terminals. Not only that, after departing from the terminal, all the buses enters the city again through Kodomtaly Area and run for their ultimate destination via Talaimary crossing.
Faruk Ahmed Misbah, Ex. President of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told that bus and truck drivers use the city’s busiest roads for their own interest and said the law enforcers should play due role in this regard.
Besides, the excessive and haphazard plying of battery-run auto-rickshaws has aggravated the situation. Many teenaged boys are seen driving the auto-rickshaws creating grave concern among the city dwellers.
General Secretary of Sylhet Road Transport Group said, ‘We are putting in our level best efforts to free the city streets from plying of buses and trucks,’ Concerted effort is very vital in this regard, he added.
Abu Sorkar, President of Sylhet District Truck Shramik Union, said that all the authorities concerned should come forward towards solving the problem as it’s vital for averting many of the road traffic accidents in the busiest places.
Traffic Inspector of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said, ‘We are trying our best efforts to enforce the existing traffic rules to contain road traffic accidents. He added that emphasis should be given on creating mass-awareness about abiding by the traffic rules and regulations to attain the cherished goal.
Mayor of Sylhet Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the city corporation provide license for only auto-rickshaw but it has no capacity to issue license for any of the driver. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) should come forward towards preventing teenagers from driving the auto rickshaws, he suggested.
