Highway Police has identified the risk of traffic congestion at 155 places on the roads and highways of the country during the upcoming journey of Eid-ul-Fitr holidaymakers and made some suggestions to overcome them quickly.
The suggestions were placed at a meeting held at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office in Dhaka on Thursday. The meeting was held to find ways to ensure the safe and smooth travel of passengers on the roads during the Eid holidays.
Among the potential traffic jam spots, 52 are on the highways from Dhaka to northern districts, 48 on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway, 41 on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, eight on the Dhaka-Paturia-Aricha road, and six on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
However, there is no possibility of traffic congestion or obstruction on the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga highways, according to Highway Police.
According to Highway Police’s information, the causes of traffic jams at those places include the presence of bus stands and counters, markets on the side of the highways, presence of U-turns, delays in toll collections at bridges, pedestrian crossings on the road, presence of weight measurement centres and road development and renovation works.
At the meeting, instructions were given to the concerned city corporations, district administrations, superintendents of police, Highway Police and BRTA to keep these places under supervision before and after Eid.
Of the 52 places on the highways to northern districts, Baipail intersection, Chandra intersection, Gorai Mill gate, Elenga Bus Stand to Bangabandhu Bridge’s East side and West Roundabouts, Konabari Underpass, Hatikumrul Roundabout and Bazaar, Sirajganj Bypass, and Bogura Bazar are notable.
Of the 48 places on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway, the eastern slope of Kanchpur Bridge, Madanpur Junction, Signboard Bus Stand, Meghna Toll Plaza, Daudkandi Toll Plaza, Chauddagram Bazar, BSCIC intersection, Barabkunda Bazar, Chhoto Kumira, Mirsarai, and Bariyarhat Bazar are notable.
Of the 41 places on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, the notable ones include Tarab, Rupsi, Barab, Barpa Bus Stand, Sultana Kamal Bridge, Bhulta intersection, and Sherpur Toll Plaza.
Addressing the meeting, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, "We hold preparatory meetings before every Eid. But we don't evaluate the implementation of the decisions made in the meeting after Eid. The decisions taken in the meeting should be evaluated to see to what extent they were effective.”
He said, “Nothing will work unless BRTA and Highway Police’s capacities are improved, no matter how many meetings are held and decisions taken. The capacity of these two organisations should be increased.”
The minister also requested the bus owners not to run unfit buses on the road.
The meeting also decided to stop the movement of trucks, covered vans and lorries on the highway for six days before and after Eid. However, vehicles carrying essential food items, perishable items, readymade garments, medicines, fertilisers and fuel will be exempted from the ban.
The minister sought cooperation from the Truck-Covered Van Owners Association to implement the decision.
Besides, it was decided to keep CNG and fuel (petrol-diesel-octane) filling stations open round-the-clock seven days before and five days after Eid, including Eid day. The maintenance work of highways and roads will be completed seven days before Eid. The garment and other factories will be closed one by one; no goods-laden vehicle will carry passengers.
Quader also directed the authorities concerned to increase vigilance on the movement of three-wheelers and motorcycles on roads and highways to avoid road accidents during Eid.
He said these two types of vehicles were the biggest nuisance on the road during the Eid journey. Mentioning that a policy needs to be announced to this end, he said the movement of three-wheeler vehicles has been restricted on 22 roads and highways of the country, but it is not being enforced yet.
The minister also warned that action would be taken against those who will take extra fares from holidaymakers during Eid and said authorities will monitor the situation round the clock.
