Trucks ply at daytime defying rules

Traffic chaos has become a common phenomenon in the port city due to haphazard movement of vehicles on streets, gridlocks at intersections and negligence in duty by officials concerned, according to commuters.

To restore discipline, Traffic Department of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) on January 18 imposed a restriction on movement of heavy vehicles, especially trucks, on certain roads from 8am to 8pm.

However, these vehicles continue to flout rules and ply the roads during daytime, causing huge tailbacks at different points.

While visiting Kalamiah Bazar area last week, a long tailback was seen from Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Bridge to Bahaddarhat in the afternoon. Two trucks, one from Bahaddarhat and another from opposite direction, blocked the road while trying to pass each other.

“I’ve been stuck here for over 30 minutes,” said Jamil Ahmed, a resident of Rahattar Pool area. “I was supposed to be home by now, but don’t know when the gridlock will clear,” said Jamil while waiting on an auto-rickshaw.

“These trucks were not supposed to ply the road during daytime… but apparently they [drivers] don’t care about rules,” he said.

Trucks and other heavy vehicles were also seen on major roads in Oxygen Intersection, Majhirghat, Ice Factory Road and Kotwali Intersection areas.

While going to Chawkbazar area, this correspondent got stuck in traffic at the intersection on a Tuesday morning as a couple of heavy vehicles were unloading goods on the side of the road.

Stuck in traffic, Lipi Rahman, a schoolteacher, said, “If there is a law in effect, how are they [trucks] defying it such unabashedly?”

This correspondent also spoke to several drivers. Wishing anonymity, they said most of the times they are forced to deliver goods during daytime as per clients’ demand.

Contacted, Abdus Sabur, general secretary of Chattogram District Truck and Covered Van Workers’ Union, said trucks and long vehicles had stopped plying the roads at daytime since the ban.

When mentioned that trucks can be seen on roads regularly, he said, “They probably do so by ‘managing’ traffic officials. If the officials remain strict in implementing the law, movement of trucks and long vehicles [at daytime] will stop right away.”

Denying the allegation, Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari, deputy commissioner (traffic) of CMP, told The Daily Star that Chattogram is the port city and hundreds of vehicles ply the roads every day.

“We try our best to restrict trucks and long vehicles… But I have no hesitation in admitting that it’s not possible to achieve cent percent success in this regard,” he said. “We continue to file cases and fine those who violate the restriction,” he added.

When asked about taking strict measures, he said even though they are faced with a persistent manpower crisis, they are trying to address the issue accordingly. “We are also organising programmes to raise awareness among drivers,” the deputy commissioner added.

According to the traffic department of CMP, the roads off-limits to trucks at daytime are: Baluchhara-BRTA-Oxygen Intersection; Oxygen Intersection to Sholashahar Gate-2; Kaptai Rastar Matha to Bahaddarhat Intersection; Utmarching to Station Road; Kadamtali to Utmarching; Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Bridge to Bakalia; Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Bridge to Kotwali Intersection; Majhirghat to New Market Intersection, and Newaz Hotel Mor to Government City College Road.

Goods-laden trucks, covered vans, long vehicles, prime movers and other heavy vehicles fall under this restriction, as per a CMP press release.

However, vehicles on emergency export duties and those carrying emergency food supply could ply the roads with special permission and stickers issued by Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the press release adds.

Earlier in 2007, a similar restriction was imposed on heavy vehicular movement from 8am to 10pm, but failed to bring results.