Staff Reporter :
Traffic congestion on country’s most highways and roads turned acute on Sunday, causing immense sufferings to Eid goers as well as the cattle traders. The gridlock has been intensified since Saturday night.
Although the authorities say that they are working relentlessly to improve the traffic situation, in reality no efforts have been seen in the last few days to ease the traffic jam.
The increase in the number of passenger buses and coaches, cattle-laden trucks and other vehicles, much more than the highways and roads can accommodate, is the main cause behind the tailbacks, a highway police official said yesterday.
Besides, big potholes and narrow roads coupled with roadside bazaars and cattle markets also added salts into wounds of the travellers.
Many long-distance passengers remained stranded on the Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Aricha, Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways for hours.
As many people on Sunday left different metropolitan cities, including capital Dhaka, towards their homes for Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, the highway police had to deal with huge tailbacks on the highways.
Around 300 cattle-laden trucks heading for Dhaka got stranded at Daulatdia and Shimulia ferry terminals as the ferry services are being disrupted due to strong current in the river Padma.
As the cattle got stranded for hours under open sky, many of the sacrificial animals became sick.
The cattle traders alleged that the officials at the terminals are giving priority to the passenger buses. “We have been waiting here since Saturday evening to cross the river Padma. We along with our cattle passed the whole night at the ferry terminal under the open sky amid rain. But we are still waiting here to cross the river. The rain and the burning sun are making our cattle sick,” a cattle trader told journalists on Sunday.
Ruhul Amin Mia, Assistant Manager, BIWTC at Kathalbaria ferry ghat, said all 19 ferries are now in operation.
“We are giving priority to the cattle-laden trucks instead of other goods laden trucks and passenger buses,” he said.
On Dhaka-Tangail highway, there was massive traffic gridlock on the highway since Saturday night due to heavy rain and work on construction of four-lane on the highway.
Besides, some vehicles mostly cattle-laden trucks broke down on the highway and the situation took a serious turn.
The traffic congestion has been created stretching from Bypass at Vogra to east Mirer Bazar and Ulukhola, spreading all around.
Mohammad Hossain Sarker, Officer-in-Charge of Salna Highway police, said traffic jam has been created stretching from Chanrda of Kaliakoir upazila in Gazipur district to Mirzapur upazila of Tangail district due to rain and dilapidated road.
“Besides, rush of cattle-laden trucks from different districts and their offloading at the roadside markets worsened the situation. Some drivers’ crossing over to oncoming traffic lanes created more trouble,” the OC said.
He said police and other members of law enforcement agencies are working round the clock to ease the traffic situation.
Numerous cattle-laden trucks heading for Dhaka and empty trucks leaving after offloading cattle largely contributed to the jams.
Besides, the law enforcers blamed some drivers for not following traffic rules.
Long queues of passenger buses and coaches, cattle-laden trucks, covered vans and other vehicles were seen on both sides of the roads at places between Mirazpur in Tangail and Chandra in Gazipur and even up to Joydevpur Chourasta of Gazipur
Bus journey from the capital to the southern districts took five to six hours more than the usual time due to long tailbacks on highways and delays at ferry ghats.
On Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, hundreds of buses and coaches, cattle-laden trucks, covered vans and other vehicles got stranded on both sides of the highway.
As all vehicles travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong and its 10 districts were crossing two major bridges on the way — Kanchpur Bridge and Meghna Bridge — they faced serious gridlock on Sunday.
A bus driver on Dhaka-Chittagong highway said traffic congestion has deteriorated on Sunday.
Abul Kalam Azad, Officer-in-Charge of Daudkandi Highway police said many loaded trucks and covered vans got stuck at different points on the highway on Saturday night due to rain.
“As a result, a serious traffic jam has been created at Kanchpur Bridge and Meghna Bridge. We hope that the traffic situation will improve soon,” he hoped.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday ordered the Road and Highway Department (RHD) engineers to complete the renovation work of damaged roads and highways of 15 northwestern districts within 24 hours.
“No excuse, including that of natural calamities such as rain, will be acceptable. Engineers know better how to do the work,” he said in a view exchange meeting with executive engineers of Khulna and Gopalganj zone of the RHD at the circuit house of Jessore district.
Quader, also Awami League General Secretary, emphasised monitoring of roads and highways so that the home-goers can reach their destinations safely and comfortably.
