Gridlock grips capital

Staff Reporter :
Traffic congestion on the city thoroughfares deteriorated on Thursday, frustrating commuters again ahead of the holy month of Ramzan.
The capital experienced gridlock since 8:00am yesterday in most parts of the city causing untold sufferings to thousands of commuters. It could take about two and a half hours to travel a distance of only 18 to 20 kilometres during peak times. Commuters suffered the worst of traffic jams in the city’s almost all strategic points and crossings, especially on Mirpur Road, Panthapath and on some other roads in Maghbazar and Malibagh areas for most of the day while traffic was also bumper to bumper on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue stretching from Shahbagh to Mohakhali and Banani.
Vehicles crawled on roads in Kuril Biswa Road, Bashundhara-Baridhara, Nodda, Notun Bazar, Uttar Badda, Moddho Badda, Rampura and other areas as digging on roads for development work narrowed street width.
Besides, hundreds of commuters got stuck yesterday as a serious gridlock was created on Rampura-Biswa Road due to heavy traffic and tattered road. Vehicular movement came to a complete halt stretching Kuril Biswa Road to Malibagh railway crossing and Mouchak.
According to Traffic Division sources, the situation will deteriorate further in coming days as the business transaction has already started marking a sharp rise ahead of Ramzan.
 “As the seasonal traders have started arriving in capital Dhaka, plying of vehicles on the city roads and streets have increased. And it is one of the major reasons for traffic jam. The scenario is only expected to deteriorate further in the days ahead. So, we can say no respite from traffic nightmare,” an official said preferring not to be named.
Besides, big path-holes and cracks which developed in many city roads in the last few months have made roads unfit for plying of all sorts of vehicles and thus intensified sufferings to commuters.
Many buses also halt far from bus stop, curbing and blocking traffic. Drivers of the buses show no regard to traffic rules at busy bus stops and intersections, making matters worse.
 “I have to spend about two and a half hours for each trip every day travelling to and from my Uttara residence to Motijheel office,” said Shafiqur Rahman.
 “When there is no traffic, the journey usually takes only 45 minutes to one hour,” he said
A number of passengers and commuters shared similar laments with over the problems they are facing on a daily basis due to traffic jam, starting with the loss of valuable time.
 “The traffic jam is more severe on Thursday compared to Wednesday as many working people and businessmen came out of their houses. Except Sunday, both the government and non-government employees enjoyed three holy days this week. As the holy days are over, they have become busy,” senior assistant commissioner (Tejgaon Zone) Rajib Dash said  
City residents have blamed the negligence of both the Dhaka South and North city corporations and Traffic Department for the unabated traffic congestion in the city,
Many think the increase in the number of rickshaws and other vehicles, much more than the roads can accommodate, is the main cause behind the tailbacks.
However, there are no solid statistics about how many rickshaws are plying on the city roads.
Apart from office goers and businessmen, they said the hard hit victims of traffic tailbacks are students who tend to arrive late for school and miss out crucial examinations that hamper their academic progress.