Pressure of homebound people increases on 2 highways in Gazipur

Working people are making their journeys towards home to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, one of the largest religious festivals for Muslims. Since Thursday (June 13) morning, vehicular pressure has started to increase at Chandra under Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur on Dhaka-Tangail highway and Chandana intersection on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Due to which traffic congestion has been created at important points. Gazipur city, district and highway police have taken various steps to reduce traffic congestion and ensure smooth home journey.

It is known that vehicles on about 117 routes in North Bengal pass through Chandra intersection in Kaliakair Upazila of Gazipur, which is known as the gateway to North Bengal. Lakhs of people from North Bengal live in Gazipur and surrounding districts in search of work. During the Eid holiday, the people of these regions started the journey together on the way to the village home. During this time, the roads and highways have several times more traffic than normal times, causing traffic congestions on the highway for a long time. Although there are three days left for Eid, many factories in the industrial city of Gazipur will be closed today. Many are already sending their wives and children to their village homes for fear of traffic congestion. Due to which the traffic pressure on the Dhaka-Tangail highway has started increasing since Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, traffic pressure has also increased on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The middle lane of the BRT project from Bhogra to College gate of Tongi is blocked, so the traffic on both sides is not able to move with normal speed. Chandana Chowrasta area is the most crowded.

An Eid holidaymaker named Sarwar Hossain at the Chowrasta said, “Our factory has announced leave for 10 days and today the factory was open till 11am. I packed my bags in the morning, now I’m leaving. Most factories will be closed today. Most of the people have gone out.”

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Gazipur’s Nawzor Highway Police Station Shahadat Hossain said that people have already started journeys towards their village homes on the occasion of Eid, increasing the pressure of vehicles on the highway. Additional policemen have been deployed on the highway. They are discharging their duties to reduce traffic congestion. Passenger pressure has increased from today and it will continue for the next 2-3 days.

Alamgir Hossain, deputy commissioner (traffic south) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, 500 policemen will perform their duties to remove the traffic jam. To ease traffic congestion, the middle lane of the BRT project will be opened for Mymensingh-bound vehicles.