Staff Reporter :
A serious traffic gridlock was created on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway since Tuesday midnight to Wednesday night when a goods-laden truck went out of order at Ashadhia in Sonargaon area of Narayanganj district.
Besides, a head on collision between two passengers’ buses at Meghna-Gomoti Bridge intensified the traffic chaos on the highway.
Apart from these, gridlock also developed on the highway due to delays in toll collections on the Kanchpur Bridge and Meghna-Gomoti Bridge, police officials and drivers of the vehicles told journalists on Wednesday.
Following the incidents, a tailback was created along a 35-kilometre stretch from Signboard area of Sonargaon upazila to Daudkandi bridge of Comilla, causing immense suffering to the passengers.
Although the goods-laden trucks and the two passengers’ busses were removed from the highways, the situation did not improve till filing of this report on Wednesday night.
All vehicles travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong and its 10 districts have to cross two major bridges on the way – Kanchpur Bridge and Meghna Bridge – and the highway police
fear that these bridges with lingering issues will cause snarl-up in those areas during the ensuing Eid holidays.
An official of the highway police said thousands of passengers got stranded in the gridlock since Tuesday night to Wednesday night.
The Dhaka-Chittagong highway was found choked up with vehicles on Tuesday night and the intolerable suffering reached the peak throughout of the day on Wednesday.
Mohammad Abul Huq, a truck driver, accused the officials and employees of toll plaza of such chaotic situation.
“Besides, forced delays in toll collection, the officials and employees of the toll plaza also forced all vehicles to stop without any reason. As a result, the traffic collapsed on the highway. We know nothing when we will reach our destination,” he said.
According to the Roads and Highways Department data, on average around 13,500 Chittagong-bound vehicles cross these two bridges every day.
But the number will surely go up when the Eid hiolidays begin with thousands leaving for their homes in towns and villages to spend the holidays.
When contacted Kachpur Highway Police Officer in-Charge Mohammad Toyebur Rahman said these two bridges will be their ‘main challenge’ in maintaining a smooth flow of traffic on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway during the Eid.
“But we feel a sense of hopelessness when a loaded heavy vehicle breaks down or accident takes place on the highway. Our wreckers can only pull 20 tonnes. But many vehicles carrying 40-50 tonnes use this bridge.
He said delays in toll collection are happening right now, and if that continues when the rush of vehicles increases ahead of Eid, long tailbacks will be a sure thing.
Regarding the delays in toll collection, the officials of toll plaza said they have six booths in the toll plaza. According to them, these booths can collect tolls from at least 40 vehicles in one minute.
Ideally, according to them, it takes only 10 seconds to collect toll from a vehicle.
But the highway police and drivers said covered vans, trailers and private cars were seen taking much more time to pay the toll.
As the Eid day is coming closer, the traffic load has increased manifolds. The gridlock at Daudkandi part of the highway has almost become unmanageable, according to police and drivers.
A serious traffic gridlock was created on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway since Tuesday midnight to Wednesday night when a goods-laden truck went out of order at Ashadhia in Sonargaon area of Narayanganj district.
Besides, a head on collision between two passengers’ buses at Meghna-Gomoti Bridge intensified the traffic chaos on the highway.
Apart from these, gridlock also developed on the highway due to delays in toll collections on the Kanchpur Bridge and Meghna-Gomoti Bridge, police officials and drivers of the vehicles told journalists on Wednesday.
Following the incidents, a tailback was created along a 35-kilometre stretch from Signboard area of Sonargaon upazila to Daudkandi bridge of Comilla, causing immense suffering to the passengers.
Although the goods-laden trucks and the two passengers’ busses were removed from the highways, the situation did not improve till filing of this report on Wednesday night.
All vehicles travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong and its 10 districts have to cross two major bridges on the way – Kanchpur Bridge and Meghna Bridge – and the highway police
fear that these bridges with lingering issues will cause snarl-up in those areas during the ensuing Eid holidays.
An official of the highway police said thousands of passengers got stranded in the gridlock since Tuesday night to Wednesday night.
The Dhaka-Chittagong highway was found choked up with vehicles on Tuesday night and the intolerable suffering reached the peak throughout of the day on Wednesday.
Mohammad Abul Huq, a truck driver, accused the officials and employees of toll plaza of such chaotic situation.
“Besides, forced delays in toll collection, the officials and employees of the toll plaza also forced all vehicles to stop without any reason. As a result, the traffic collapsed on the highway. We know nothing when we will reach our destination,” he said.
According to the Roads and Highways Department data, on average around 13,500 Chittagong-bound vehicles cross these two bridges every day.
But the number will surely go up when the Eid hiolidays begin with thousands leaving for their homes in towns and villages to spend the holidays.
When contacted Kachpur Highway Police Officer in-Charge Mohammad Toyebur Rahman said these two bridges will be their ‘main challenge’ in maintaining a smooth flow of traffic on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway during the Eid.
“But we feel a sense of hopelessness when a loaded heavy vehicle breaks down or accident takes place on the highway. Our wreckers can only pull 20 tonnes. But many vehicles carrying 40-50 tonnes use this bridge.
He said delays in toll collection are happening right now, and if that continues when the rush of vehicles increases ahead of Eid, long tailbacks will be a sure thing.
Regarding the delays in toll collection, the officials of toll plaza said they have six booths in the toll plaza. According to them, these booths can collect tolls from at least 40 vehicles in one minute.
Ideally, according to them, it takes only 10 seconds to collect toll from a vehicle.
But the highway police and drivers said covered vans, trailers and private cars were seen taking much more time to pay the toll.
As the Eid day is coming closer, the traffic load has increased manifolds. The gridlock at Daudkandi part of the highway has almost become unmanageable, according to police and drivers.
