The situation on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur is better than the last few years. However, since Thursday morning, there are crowds of home-goers at various important points including Chandana intersection on the highway and the pressure of vehicles is also very high.
To keep the movement of vehicles smooth on the highway, the road is being monitored round the clock with the deployment of additional traffic police at important points including Chandana, Bhogra Bypass intersection, Board Bazar, and Station Road.
There are certain routes with fewer vehicles and more commuters. Many said they have to wait for a long time for buses, and taking advantage of this, transport workers are charging extra fare, reports UNB.
Dhaka TribuneBuses on the Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Netrakona and other routes are charging about one and a half times more than usual fare, they complained.
Although there was not much traffic on the Chandra to Kaliakoir section, queues of vehicles were seen on the Kaliakoir-Nabinagar road since morning. There is also traffic jam on that road.
The highway police said that this situation is being created as passenger buses are stopped and to pick passengers at Chandra three roads intersection. The vehicles behind it are not able to move at normal speed.
Atiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Konabari Highway police station said: “There was some pressure of traffic in the morning, which is like normal time. There is a possibility of increased traffic pressure when factories are closed. Highway police along with members of the law and order force are on duty at important places on the highway to clear the traffic.”
Dhaka TribuneHabibur Rahman, a garment factory worker in Gazipur's Board Bazar (Targach) area, said: “I left my home in the morning for Gouripur, Mymensingh. So far, vehicles have been stopping at some places.”
Sadek Mia of Sirajganj works in Standard Group of Konabari area. He said: “The traffic jam has started from Nandan Park. But I don't understand why the bus is standing on the road. Buses are standing at Chandra intersection for a long time. Passengers are wasting time in boarding. Because of this, the buses behind are not able to move forward.”
Noore Alam of Kurigram lives in Gacha area of the metropolis with his wife and two children. Both husband and wife work in a local garment factory. He said: “I have been waiting for the bus since 9am. I don't have the courage to get on bus as I am being asked for more fare.”
As most of the industrial factories of Gazipur have not declared holidays, the Eid journey has not started completely. Transport drivers said that the crowd will increase as the day progresses. They said district and highway policemen were seen performing their duty at important points on the highway to avoid untoward incidents on the highway.
Dhaka TribuneOfficer-in-charge (OC) of Mauna Highway police station Kangkan Kumar Biswas said that three teams of highway police are working in the 22km area from Bhawanipur to Jainabazar on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to ensure that people return home during the Eid journey. A wrecker with a mobile team is ready round the clock to remove the accident-affected vehicles from the highway.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Naozor highway police station Mostafizur Rahman said that Gazipur district police and highway police are working jointly to facilitate the journey of passengers. Passengers are returning home with relief even though there is some stress from the morning. From Bagher Bazar on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to Mauna intersection in Sreepur, vehicles are moving slowly.
In this regard, he said: “We have prepared to deal with the situation. Moreover, multiple wreckers have been kept ready at different points of the highway to remove the vehicle if it suddenly breaks down on the highway.”
Dhaka TribuneGazipur district police Additional Superintendent of Police (traffic) Nazmus Saqib said that the traffic department of Gazipur district has been divided into three parts – Joydebpur and Sreepur police station areas on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, Chandra-Kaliakair area and Kaliganj-Kapasia police station area on Dhaka-Tangail highway.
He said that 240 policemen have been deployed in two shifts to keep traffic normal in Chandra area. Various awareness banners have been put up at various important points on the highway including Chandra. Traffic instructions are given on those banners. Apart from traffic control, the police are also working to prevent the activities of robbers.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Mohammad Alamgir Hossain said that 300 traffic policemen and rover scouts have been deployed along with APBn members to keep traffic conditions normal on the highway during Eid journey.
Regarding charging higher rent, he said that immediate action will be taken if such information is received.