Traffic slows to a crawl on Dhaka-Chittagong highway
City Desk :
Traffic movement was slow on a 13-kilometre stretch of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Gajaria of Munshiganj from Thursday night till around Friday noon with hundreds of thousands of people going to their hometowns and villages for the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Humayun Kabir, in charge of Gajaria highway police outpost, said vehicles were moving slowly from Langalbandh in Narayanganj to Daudkandi Meghna-Gumti Bridge in Comilla due to heavy traffic.
He said due to the narrowness of some parts of the highway on the side of the Meghna-Gumti Bridge in the Comilla section, traffic on the highway slows down.
However, he said, traffic movement was starting to return to normal.
Meanwhile, according to Additional Commissioner of Traffic Division Munibur Rahman, an estimated that one hundred million people may leave Dhaka during this festive period, assuring the holidaymakers the police department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and comfort of travelers returning to their homes.
Speaking at a press conference held at DMP’s media center, Rahman highlighted the challenges posed by the surge in travelers, primarily through road transport.
With most journeys expected to be undertaken by road, congestion becomes a significant concern, particularly on key routes leading out of Dhaka.
Munibur Rahman emphasised the efforts being made to keep these routes clear of traffic snarls, acknowledging the ongoing renovation works and the need for timely completion to ease congestion.
One major concern raised by Munibur is the disruption caused by buses departing off schedule, leading to overcrowding and inconvenience for passengers.
He urged bus operators to adhere strictly to their schedules and for homeowners to monitor and manage the departure process efficiently.
Besides, Munibur Rahman stressed the importance of addressing issues related to unfit vehicles, ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles are permitted to operate during the Eid rush.
DMP’s ongoing campaign against unfit vehicles involves regular checks and enforcement actions to mitigate risks associated with mechanical faults.
