Homebound people may face traffic congestion on the Dhaka–Tangail–Jamuna Bridge Highway during the upcoming Eid travel as the four-lane expansion work between Elenga and the Jamuna Bridge remains unfinished. Drivers and passengers worry that the incomplete construction could cause serious traffic jams along the busy route during the holiday rush.
The highway is one of the country’s main road corridors and the primary route connecting Dhaka with the northern districts. About 65 kilometers of the highway fall within Tangail. During Eid every year, millions of people travel along this route to go to their home districts, significantly increasing traffic pressure compared to normal times.
Vehicles from around 24 districts use this highway, making it one of the busiest transport routes in the country. As a result, traffic congestion frequently occurs during major festivals when the number of vehicles rises sharply.
Authorities have taken several measures to reduce the congestion. The highway has been divided into four sectors for better management, and around 1,000 police personnel will be deployed to control traffic. Volunteers will also assist police, and bamboo barricades will be placed on link roads to regulate vehicle movement.
According to project officials, the highway development work is being carried out under the SASEC-2 project. Construction firm Abdul Monem Limited received the contract in December 2021 with an estimated project cost of around Tk 600 crore. Work began in March 2022.
Although the project deadline ended in December 2025, only about 50% of the construction has been completed so far. Work on several flyovers and underpasses is still ongoing, and service lanes are also unfinished. Authorities have proposed extending the project deadline by another year.
The ongoing construction has narrowed the road in several areas, forcing vehicles to move slowly. In some parts, traffic is limited to fewer lanes, which may create bottlenecks during the Eid rush.
Police and related sources also said technical problems in the Jamuna Bridge toll collection system can sometimes cause delays. When toll operations stop temporarily, vehicles remain stuck on the bridge, creating long queues on the Tangail side.
Transport workers also say that unfit vehicles operating during Eid often break down on the highway, which can quickly create traffic jams.
To improve traffic flow, authorities plan to open both sides of the highway for vehicle movement where possible. At the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza, vehicles will pass through nine booths on each side, including two dedicated booths for motorcycles.
Tangail police said about 1,000 policemen will work in three shifts around the clock, starting five days before Eid and continuing for seven days after the holiday, to help maintain smooth traffic movement on the highway.
