With the Eid-ul-Azha only four days away, homebound people have already started leaving the capital. But like every year, most of them were caught up in tailbacks on highways, although the exit points were fairly clear yesterday.

Bus and launch terminals and railway stations in the city were heavily crowded with holidaymakers, with transport operators struggling to cope the pressure. The pressure is expected to rise further from today, and with it the ordeal on the highways.

This year's biggest headache seems to be inadequate ferry service at both the ferry terminals. Ferry service on Shimulia-Kathalbari route was partially suspended last week as water level fell in some parts of the Padma river. This has created an immense pressure on the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminal in Manikganj.

People from about 20 districts use Shimulia-Kathalbari and Paturia-Daulatdia routes.

Normally during Eid holidays, 21 ferries operate on Shimulia-Kathalbari route, carrying around 4,500 vehicles every day. But since last week, just 10 small ferries are in service, carrying only small and light vehicles such as private cars and bikes.

"We're working to assess the situation. But it seems that the route is not ready for big ferries to operate," said Shah Md Khaled Newaz, assistant general manager of BIWTC, the river port authority.

As a result, long-haul vehicles are taking the Paturia-Daulatdia route. At around 2:00pm yesterday, more than 600 vehicles were stranded on either side of the Padma. 

Apart from heavy traffic, strong current in the river is posing as another big challenge, forcing ferries to wait or take a detour, requiring double the time to cross the river.

Abdus Sattar, manager (marine) of the BIWTC's Paturia office, said usually ferries took 35-40 minutes to cross the river. Now they are taking around 80 minutes.

As a result, the number of trips has decreased, contributing to the tailback on the highway. Hundreds of people heading for southern districts were seen stuck in tailback yesterday. 

SM Ashikuzzaman, general manager (commerce) of the BIWTC, said 20 ferries were in operation on the Paturia-Daulatdia route now. Two more are expected to join the existing fleet in a couple of days.

Dhaka-Chittagong highway saw one of the worst tailbacks, stretching about 20km from Kanchpur Bridge to Megnha Bridge.

Our Comilla correspondent took a bus at Sayedabad in the capital at 10:00am yesterday and it took him a full one hour to cross the Kanchpur Bridge. He reached the Meghna Bridge around 2:00pm. 

But as the home rush is expected to increase, Eid travellers are likely to face even more ordeal on the road if the authorities fail to control vehicular movement at some key points of the highways.

Trucks line up at Shimulia Ferry Terminal in Munshiganj. The tailback was created at the terminal as ferry service on Shimulia-Kathalabari route was disrupted due to poor navigability in the Padma. Photo: Star

Narrow roads and bridges, unplanned intersections, toll plazas and weight bridges, illegal roadside markets and the authorities' inability to control so many vehicles are responsible for the situation.

The government has chalked out a number of measures to maintain discipline on the roads. Additional police will be deployed on different highways as well as bus and ferry terminals. Also, a control room will be set up at the Road Transports and Highways Division in Dhaka to ensure smooth traffic.

The Police Headquarters at a meeting with leaders of transport owners on Thursday decided to prevent unfit vehicles from plying the roads and control reckless driving.

Train journey was relatively hassle-free. Most trains, except for two in the morning, left the Kamalapur Railway Station on time.

Private launch owners will start a 15-day special launch services from Dhaka starting today.

Under the service, 30 triple-deck private launches will ply Dhaka-Barisal route till September 1, said Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice-president of Barisal Launch Owners Association.

DHAKA-CHITTAGONG HIGHWAY

People were subjected to a 23km-long tailback between Kanchpur and Meghna Bridge on the highway, considered the economic lifeline of the country.

Buses that left the capital's Sayedabad for Chittagong around 10:00am reached Mugrapara area of Sonargaon after two hours, our Comilla correspondent reports.

Another 3km-long tailback was caused between Meghna-Gumti toll station and Daudkandi, said Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Daudkandi Highway Police Station.

The rush of Eid holidaymakers and freight trucks has caused the tailbacks, he added. 

light vehicles wait in queues to board a ferry. The photos were taken around 1:30pm yesterday. Photo: Star

DHAKA-MYMENSINGH HIGHWAY

Workers of a garment factory blocked the highway in Hotapara area of Gazipur for around seven hours from 9:00am demanding Eid bonus and holidays.

Tailbacks on either side reached nearly 10km, causing immense suffering to travellers.

"I got stuck in traffic in Rajendrapur area around 11:00am and had barely moved since," Alamgir Hossain, a bus passenger told this newspaper at 2:30pm.

The road was cleared around 4:00pm.

DHAKA-TANGAIL-RANGPUR HIGHWAY

A number of bottlenecks are feared to cause suffering on the road. Vehicles have to slow down at several points between Chandra and Elenga Bazar amid road expansion work.

Roads and Highways Department officials said expanded parts of the road and overpasses at intersections that were opened to traffic would ease congestion.

Authorities will deploy 700 policemen to control traffic on the highway that connects the north-western districts with Dhaka, said Sujit Kumer Roy, superintendent of police in Tangail.

Around 15,000 vehicles use the highway every day. But during the Eid, the number increases to 30,000 to 40,000, according to highway police.

DHAKA-SYLHET HIGHWAY

Holidaymakers leaving for Sylhet may suffer in tailbacks while leaving Dhaka and its outskirts.

Among the dreaded points is Narayanganj's Bhulta intersection where a flyover is being constructed.

[Our correspondents in Manikganj, Tangail, Bogra, Munshiganj, Sylhet and Comilla contributed to this story.]