People in Gaibandha suffer from continuous traffic jam as the authority shows negligence to construct a bypass beside the town.
Roads and Highway Department engineer Mahbub Alam Khan said: “Vehicles cannot pass the town quickly as the road is narrow and there is no alternative way.”
He said at first a proposal of Tk56 crore was sent to the ministry in 1988 to construct a bypass beside the town.
Later, another proposal of TK73 crore was sent to the ministry in 2011. But the authority did not take any steps.
Recently another proposal of Tk75 crore to construct the road has been sent to the ministry.
Everyday thousands of vehicles including buses, trucks, three wheelers ply on the narrow road throughout the town causing long tailback.
Everyday, number of locally made three wheelers such as Nasiman, Kariman, Vutvuti are increasing rapidly. But the road cannot be extended with the marching of the increasing vehicles.
The people have to suffer as there is regular tailback from Bridge Road area to Purano Bazar, Post office road, Jail road, DC office road and Rail gate areas. In rush hour, pedestrians cannot walk due to the traffic jam. No traffic police is seen this time also.
The tailback also increases when the vehicles from Dhaka cross the town for Sundarganj, Sadullapur, Naldanga, Saghata and Phulchari.
When visited the town, it was found that many illegal auto-rickshaw parking stations and shops have been set up occupying the footpath which is one of the reason of traffic jam.
Mahmudul Gani Rijon, Khademul Islam Khudi of Bridge Road, Sahabul Shaheen of Dhangara, Goutum Asis Guho of David Company Para area said a bypass should be made to solve the problem.
Advocate Sirajul Islam, convenor of Gaibandha Civil Society said: “If the bypass is constructed, the traffic jam will be removed.”
Mayor Shamsul Alom said: “The steps should be taken up immediately to construct the bypass.”