Bumper-to-bumper traffic choked movements on city roads yesterday, which is unusual on weekends, as city dwellers tried to get to the malls for shopping with 14 days in hand ahead of eid.
Every year, the city’s traffic system virtually falls apart on the days ahead of eid; when during any normal weekend, it takes a shorter time to get to any place by car, yesterday commuters’ experiences were different, with longer waiting times in vehicles to cross short distances.
On the 16th day of Ramadan, city dwellers seemed to have come out of their houses on a shopping spree -- leading to huge tailbacks in the most important parts of the capital starting in the morning. The tailbacks relaxed in the afternoon but after Iftar, the situation again became horrible.
For a two kilometre stretch from Farmgate to Shahbagh intersection, which is normally a 10 minute journey on weekends, it took 90 minutes by car.
“Normally in weekends I come to the office at Sukrabad in ten minutes from Nilkhet intersection. But it took half an hour today,” said Syed Soyeb, a private company employee. He said that his bus took 15 minutes to cross the New Market area as private cars and motorcycles were kept on the road blocking half of the total space.
Motorcyclists were seen driving on footpaths to avoid traffic jams. Their activities compelled passersby to come to the main road from the footpaths. In some areas, motorcyclists could not even use the footpaths.
Abu Moudud, a traffic sergeant at Mirpur, said the scenario had become a common occurrence at noon since more people would throng the streets to shop. The situation became worse as many city dwellers chose the weekend for shopping.
“Shoppers park vehicles in front of the markets, narrowing down the roads. They do not always obey the law,” he said.
“I don’t think the situation will change till eid,” he opined.
Yesterday, many people could not return home in time to take iftar. Many were seen breaking their fast at markets and even in buses and auto-rickshaws.
Witnesses said the traffic jams were acute in front of Bangabazar, New Market, Gausia, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Mouchak Market, Eastern Plaza, Ramna Bhaban, Farmgate,
Elephant Road, Karwan Bazar, Rapa Plaza, Shimanto Square, Moghbazar and Gulistan, where the main shopping malls are situated.
Hundreds of cars were seen parked on both sides of the roads in front of the shopping malls and markets.