Eid rush triggers congestion on 30km stretch of Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway
Passengers have been enduring significant hardship, particularly children and the elderly.
A nearly 30-kilometre stretch of the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway has been experiencing intermittent traffic congestion due to excessive vehicle pressure and multiple vehicle breakdowns on the bridge approach road overnight.
The congestion began late yesterday and continued today (19 March), stretching from the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza to Karatipara, causing severe disruption to traffic movement.
As a result, passengers have been enduring significant hardship, particularly children and the elderly.
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Mohammad Sharif, in-charge of Elenga Highway police outpost, said reckless driving had slowed traffic movement on the highway.
He added that police were working to ensure smoother travel during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday and that traffic conditions were expected to normalise soon.
Sabuj Mia, travelling from Tongi in Gazipur, said he had to board a truck after failing to get a bus.
"A journey that should have taken one and a half hours took nearly 12 hours. I am still stuck on the highway. The heat and sun are making it unbearable," he added.
Rehena Begum, a female passenger heading to Rajshahi, said she had been stuck in traffic since crossing Chandra. "Vehicles move a little and then stop again. It took me eight hours just to reach Tangail," she said.
Another traveller, Khorshed Mia, said there were no available seats on buses.
"There is not even any space to stand. I had no choice but to take a truck at triple the usual fare. Moreover, the heat is making the journey very difficult," he added.
36 vehicles crossing Jamuna Bridge per minute
Vehicle movement over the Jamuna Bridge has surged nearly threefold, with an average of 36 vehicles crossing the bridge per minute, compared to around 13 during normal times.
According to the bridge authorities, 51,584 vehicles crossed the bridge in the 24 hours until midnight, generating Tk3.51 crore in toll revenue.
Of these, 18,744 vehicles were Dhaka-bound, generating Tk1.54 crore in tolls, while 32,840 vehicles heading towards northern districts contributed Tk1.97 crore.
Syed Riaz Uddin, executive engineer at the Jamuna Bridge site office, 18 toll booths – nine on each side – were operational to manage the increased flow.
