Easing Tailback: PMO forms 4-member committee

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) yesterday formed a four-member committee for finding ways to ease tailback at the toll plazas of Padma Bridge, Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway and Hanif flyover.

The committee -- led by Farid Ahmad, chief executive officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) -- was asked to provide recommendations to solve the issue.

Additional chief engineer (Dhaka zone) of Roads and Highways Department (RHD), chief engineers of Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) and DSCC would be members of the committee.

The development came at a meeting the PMO convened yesterday at its office with officials from Road Transport and Highways Division, Bridges Division, RHD, BBA, DSCC and flyover operator Orion Group, said participants.

The entrance to Jatrabari has been witnessing regular traffic congestion since late last month after the opening of Padma Bridge.

Manual toll collection at the newly opened bridge and the expressway added to the snarl-ups when the pressure of vehicles increased, leading to the suffering of tens of thousands of passengers.

Amid such a situation, the PMO called the meeting yesterday with Azizur Rahman, director general-2 of PMO, coordinating it, said sources.

The meeting directed BBA to consider doubling the human resources and installing more toll booths for Padma Bridge, a participant told this correspondent, requesting anonymity.

It also directed the authorities of all three structures to round up toll figures -- for example charging Tk 20 if the toll of a vehicle is Tk 18 -- and keeping changes available to save time.

He said the committee will make recommendations to reduce traffic congestion within 15 days. The PMO will scrutinise and take final decisions in this regard.