THE unplanned development work of the government has created an unprecedented tailback stretching mile after mile on Dhaka-Chattogram highway, the lifeline of the economy, in the last six consecutive days. The traffic has not moved an inch for hours leaving bus passengers and transport workers exhausted with no food, no water, and no toilet on the highway. All the developments, including multi-lane highways and flyovers, have seemed to be worthless in this intolerable tailback.
The Dhaka- Chattogram highway, the busiest thoroughfare in the country, sees occasional tailbacks but the ongoing congestion began on Wednesday after a portion of the four-lane highway was closed at Fatehpur of Feni for constructing a railway-overpass in the area. Also, the other side of the highway in that area is in a bad shape due to rain and excessive pressure of vehicles, which worsened the situation further.
At Fatehpur in Feni, traffic police are halting vehicles coming from one side for an hour so vehicles from the other side can pass through. For the next one hour, they open the road for the vehicles of the other side, and it continues alternately, causing the tailback. Exporters and importers who depend on Chattogram Port are facing huge loss due to the tailback. We think, special train service on Dhaka- Chattogram route for passenger and cargo can quick resolute the impasse until the issue is solved. Usually, more than 80 percent of the goods-laden vehicles for export-import ply through the highway.
The highway has been witnessing tailback since the work resumed in March last year. It is claimed that the construction work of the overpass began without keeping good alternative road. Now the situation worsened when the only alternative road was closed a few days ago due to its poor condition. We are surprised how the government could take such a development project keeping millions of people under tremendous sufferings.
The government must solve the tailback problem with no delay as the emergency services have already been suspended for that reason.
The Dhaka- Chattogram highway, the busiest thoroughfare in the country, sees occasional tailbacks but the ongoing congestion began on Wednesday after a portion of the four-lane highway was closed at Fatehpur of Feni for constructing a railway-overpass in the area. Also, the other side of the highway in that area is in a bad shape due to rain and excessive pressure of vehicles, which worsened the situation further.
At Fatehpur in Feni, traffic police are halting vehicles coming from one side for an hour so vehicles from the other side can pass through. For the next one hour, they open the road for the vehicles of the other side, and it continues alternately, causing the tailback. Exporters and importers who depend on Chattogram Port are facing huge loss due to the tailback. We think, special train service on Dhaka- Chattogram route for passenger and cargo can quick resolute the impasse until the issue is solved. Usually, more than 80 percent of the goods-laden vehicles for export-import ply through the highway.
The highway has been witnessing tailback since the work resumed in March last year. It is claimed that the construction work of the overpass began without keeping good alternative road. Now the situation worsened when the only alternative road was closed a few days ago due to its poor condition. We are surprised how the government could take such a development project keeping millions of people under tremendous sufferings.
The government must solve the tailback problem with no delay as the emergency services have already been suspended for that reason.
