8-LANE ROAD turns 4-lane at some points

It is the main “corridor” through which a huge number of vehicles from Chittagong and Sylhet enter and exit the capital.

The 7.2 kilometres stretch of the Jatrabari-Kanchpur road was upgraded to an eight-lane highway to facilitate smooth passage of vehicles.

But this major highway has been significantly narrowed at several points by a section of unscrupulous transport operators and traders, who have illegally occupied parts of the highway width to run their businesses.

If such unauthorised occupancy of the road at different points were not cleared, travellers would be the ultimate sufferers, opined road transport experts.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 13 inaugurated the eight-lane road, designed to ease congestion on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) implemented the project at a cost of around Tk 131.99 crore.

During a visit along the highway yesterday, it was seen that lorries were parked erratically on both sides, taking up over one lane of the highway on each side at Matuail. Numerous roadside garages sprouted along the highway, and vehicles were being repaired while parked on the highway.

The median has been broken at several points for vehicles to take unauthorised U-turn, slowing traffic movement.

Non-motorised vehicles, sometimes carrying heavy and oversized loads, also use the highway. They not only slow traffic flow but also put road users at risks.

 Although the situation has improved in last one and half months due to drives by the government, illegal occupancy is still there.

This correspondent also visited the highway on August 15 and October 4.

During the August 15 visit, it was seen that vehicles were kept on both sides of the highway at many spots, occupying over one lane of the highway on each side. Some of them were just parked while others were being repaired.

Besides, buses were seen stopping even on middle lanes to pick up or drop off passengers.

Trucks were seen loading and unloading goods like bamboos, motor parts and scrap metals, occupying part of the road.

The spots where the occupancy was most prevalent include Dania, Shanir Akhra, Matuail, Rayerbagh, Sanarpar, Signboard and Simrail.

“We have no parking lot. That's why we park our buses here because most of the owners live in this locality,” said Akash, a helper of a minibus that was parked occupying the road at Dania, on August 15.

Around 30 buses were also seen parked in a row in the area. Some of them were on the road.

Visiting the same spot on October 4, around a dozen buses were seen parked there in a similar way.

At different points along the highway, buses, trucks and pick-up trucks were being repaired and painted, taking up a part of the road.

“Whenever there is a minor problem in our bus, we come here [Rayerbagh] at the roadside garages for a quick fix,” said Abdul Halim, a driver of a local bus plying Dhaka-Narayanganj route, at Rayerbagh.

A staff of Abdullah Motors at Sonir Akhra said, “We have been running this garage here for the last couple of years. As there is a shortage of space, vehicles are often parked on parts of the road.”

In Matuail, some people were seen unloading steel sheets from a pickup-truck, which was parked on the road.

There are around a dozen shops along the highway that sell bamboos, and most of the time, traders keep their trucks on a lane of the road and then load the vehicles or unload the bamboos on to the soft shoulder.

A good number of local buses were also seen parked on a lane of the highway at Sanarpar and Signboard areas.

“This is our last stop [Sanarpar] ... We keep our buses here for some time until the next trip,” a driver told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.

However, drives to remove illegal structures on both sides of the highway were on and the rubble of the temporary shops and other establishments were seen scattered beside the road.

“We had a garage here. But the administration had demolished it,” said Matin Miah at Rayerbagh.

Talking to The Daily Star, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary MAN Siddique said, “We have already conducted drives against illegal occupiers of the eight-lane highway. We will continue drives on a regular basis.”

Gobinda Chandra Paul, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (traffic, Demra zone), said, “We conduct regular drives against vehicles parked on the road. But we need more people to keep the road completely free from illegal occupiers.”

Eminent road transport expert Prof Shamsul Hoque stressed the need for a comprehensive plan to address the issue. Apart from maintenance of highways, steps should be taken so that illegal occupiers cannot use the roadside land, he added.