With the Eid holidays drawing to a close, thousands have begun returning to the capital, causing a significant rise in Dhaka-bound traffic along the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway.
While the pressure on the highway has noticeably increased, authorities report that traffic is still flowing without any major congestion.
According to the Jamuna Bridge authorities, a total of 49,182 vehicles crossed the bridge in the 24-hour period between Thursday midnight and Friday midnight, generating Tk3.43 crore in tolls.
Of the total, 18,365 vehicles were northbound, contributing Tk1.48 crore in toll collection. The majority, however — 30,817 vehicles — were headed towards Dhaka, accounting for Tk1.94 crore in tolls.
A 17-kilometre-long tailback has formed on the highway due to a road accident on the Jamuna Bridge and a surge in vehicular pressure. The traffic congestion, which began early Saturday morning, has been reported from the eastern end of the Jamuna Bridge stretching to Pungli in Tangail.
Passengers and drivers have been suffering for hours as vehicles crawl through the affected stretch.
Police sources said the traffic buildup started late Friday night as the number of vehicles on the highway began to rise. A road accident occurred on the Jamuna Bridge in the early hours, further aggravating the situation.
Delays in removing the damaged vehicle and slow toll collection added to the disruption. Additionally, the inability of vehicles to pass smoothly on the Sirajganj (western) side of the bridge has contributed to the congestion on the Tangail side.
While Dhaka-bound traffic remains largely unaffected, vehicles heading towards northern districts are facing significant delays.
Speaking on the situation, Officer-in-Charge of Jamuna Bridge East Police Station, Fayez Ahmed, said: “A road accident on the bridge caused slow vehicle movement throughout the night, resulting in the current congestion. We expect traffic to return to normal soon.”
Mohammad Sharif, in-charge of the Elenga Highway Police Outpost, added: “Heavy traffic and congestion on the Sirajganj side led to a spillover effect in Tangail. Our team is working tirelessly to ease the jam.”
