Eid journey via Bangabandhu bridge: New Eid, same old fear of gridlocks

Home-bound passengers travelling to the north for Eid this year may face the same old issue of heavy traffic jams at both ends of the Bangabandhu Bridge. Despite the concerns raised by transport workers, passengers and other parties concerned, the authorities have failed to provide assurance of a hassle-free journey.

As per sources, at least 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles of 116 routes in 26 districts, including 16 from northern districts, travel through Bangabandhu Bridge east-link road  in normal circumstances every day, which increases to 50,000 to 60,000 vehicles before Eid.

The additional number of vehicles often leads to traffic congestion, which is further intensified by road accidents, reckless driving, breakdown of vehicles, and adverse weather conditions.

According to passengers and authorities concerned, vehicles can run on the 55-km new highway from Chandra in Gazipur to Elenga in Tangail quite comfortably.

However, their speed slows down when the vehicles enter the two-lane 13-km Bangabandhu Bridge east-link road, creating gridlocks.

To reduce traffic pressure on the east-link road, vehicles, especially goods-laden trucks, will be bypassed through Bhuapur area, said Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bangabandhu Bridge East Police Station.

"Heavy trucks move slowly and this often causes traffic congestion. That's why we came up with this plan," he explained.

Meanwhile, a footbridge at Elenga bus-stop was recently destroyed. As a result, individuals cross the street by gesturing with their hands for vehicles to stop, slowing traffic, according to locals. They are concerned that this may contribute to even worse traffic jams during the approaching Eid journey.

Confirming the development, Elenga Highway Police Outpost In-Charge Jahid Hasan said, the road department removed the dilapidated foot-bridge at Elenga without informing them.

However, some progress has been made. The widening of the 1,200-metre road from Elenga bus stand to Bhuanpur Link Road will be completed before Eid, according to Md Rabiul Awal, project manager of Abdul Momen Limited, the contractor firm assigned for the project.

But passengers and drivers have said that this is just the iceberg's tip.

Babu Mia, a bus driver on the northern route from Dhaka, said, "Nothing has been done everywhere except for the ongoing construction of widening this small road in Elenga. Everything is the same as it was the previous Eid. So it appears that similar traffic congestion will occur this time as well."

Besides, Babu pointed out that there is a possibility of gridlocks on the 22-km road from the western end of the bridge to Hatikumrul intersection in Sirajganj due to the ongoing works to upgrade the highway into four-lanes.

Roashan Yazdani, officer-in-charge of Bangabandhu Bridge West Police Station, revealed that there are still some problems on the road from the western end of the bridge to Hatikumrul area, which will not be resolved before Eid.

But he didn't specify the problems, apart from saying that there is a bridge at Jhawail area, about seven kilometres from the Bangabandhu bridge, where the speed of vehicles may slow down.

Kawsar Ahmed of Nilphamari, who returns home for Eid from Dhaka every year, hopes that the authorities will take steps to reduce traffic congestion at the Bangabandhu Bridge. But he is not too optimistic.

"Every Eid, I travel to Nilphamari to celebrate with friends and relatives. Every year, though, heavy traffic near the bridge dampens the festivities. It seems this year will be no different."

Tangail Traffic Inspector (Administration) Delwar Hossain suggests that garment authorities should give scheduled holidays in phases to prevent the rush of home-bound workers on highways, which is a major reason for traffic jams during Eid.

To ensure a smooth return for people of the northern region, a meeting was held in the office of Tangail Superintendent of Police Sarkar Mohammad Kaiser on March 29. Over 700 police officers will be on duty on the highway to help people return home smoothly during Eid.

The SP has also instructed the authorities concerned to prevent three-wheelers and small vehicles plying the service lane, and prevent them from entering the highway.