Transport workers fear that Eid holidaymakers will suffer delays on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, known as the gateway to northern districts, as the construction of seven out of ten underpasses still remains incomplete.

They also expressed worries that long tailbacks could be seen at both sides of the Bangabandhu Bridge due to lack of proper traffic management at the western side of the bridge. 

The authorities, however, assured that they will take necessary measures to ensure trouble-free journeys for holidaymakers.

Visiting a 55-kilometre stretch of the highway from Chandra in Gazipur to Elenga in Tangail on May 18, this correspondent found that vehicles were stuck in tailbacks near the construction sites.

Construction of underpasses is going on in Taratia and Karatia of Tangail Sadar upazila, Baoikhola and Natiapara in Basail upazila and Jamurki, Kurni and Dhalla in Mirzapur upazila.

The condition of the highway was bad at many places. Workers were seen fixing potholes on the road.

Saiful Islam, driver of a Dhaka-Pabna bus, said he faces long tailbacks near the construction sites almost every day. The traffic situation becomes worse during the rainy days when the highway gets almost covered with mud in those areas, he added.

SP Shafiqul Islam of Gazipur Highway Police said they were taking preparations to make sure that Eid holidaymakers could travel without facing any trouble.

Amit Kumar Chakrabarty, project manager of Joydevpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga Four Lane Project, said building diversions of the highway at both sides of some underpasses will be complete before the Eid.

The repair work of the highway would also be done before the Eid, he added.

The Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed in the country either on June 5 or 6.

POLICE SEEK BBA SUPPORT

Sirajganj police has recently sent a letter to Bangladesh Bridge Authority with some recommendations, including repairing of the damaged part of the highway and road marking, to ensure trouble-free movement of vehicles during the Eid holidays, said Shahidul Alam, OC of Bangabandhu Bridge West Police Station.

“We will make a proper plan for the deployment of law enforcers. Besides, we will stop reckless driving and violation of traffic rules, which caused tailbacks stretching from the western side of Jamuna Bridge to Hatikumrul and Nokla in the previous years,” the OC told The Daily Star.

There were gridlocks at the western side of the bridge during the previous Eid holidays.

 Ahsanul Kabir Pavel, assistant engineer at the BBA site office in Tangail, said they would install two more toll booths on the bridge before the Eid. Presently, there are six booths at either side of the bridge.

THREE UNDERPASSES OPENED

With the opening of three underpasses on the Dhaka-Tangail highway on May 25, suffering of passengers and transport workers have eased largely.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the underpasses in Gharinda, Mirzapur and Deohata areas through videoconferencing from the Gono Bhaban.

Rasel Miah, driver of a three-wheeler auto-rickshaw which runs from Tangail town to Gharinda Railway Station, said he can now cross the highway using the underpass within a few seconds. Previously, he had to spend at least five to 10 minutes at the busy intersection in Gharinda to cross the road.

The area saw many road accidents over the years as it was very risky to cross the road. Besides, managing traffic was also quite difficult.

Sajedul Islam, a traffic inspector in Tangail, said they had struggled to manage the traffic at the intersection, especially during the Eid holidays. But after the opening of the underpasses, it has become easy for them.