Waterlogging, repairwork trigger tailbacks on Dhaka roads

There has been major congestion on a few of the main roads in the capital since Tuesday morning, resulting from waterlogging and construction work.

Incessant rainfall on Monday, under the influence of Cyclone Sitrang, and ongoing construction work of BRT and flyover projects in Gazipur, disrupted outgoing traffic movement.

Earlier on Tuesday night, the existing potholes of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway widened under the pressure of goods-laden vehicles and further worsened the condition of the highway.

Meanwhile, the route from Tongi Station Road to Cherag Ali Market is already in a deplorable condition.

Commuters were forced to drive in a single lane and faced a heavy traffic jam on the Cherag Ali Market to Abdullahpur route on Wednesday morning.

The huge tailbacks on the Dhaka- Mymensingh Highway stretched till Banani on Wednesday morning, said Sajjad Hossain, inspector at the Traffic Police Box of Uttara House Building zone.

"We could not allow vehicles into the Gazipur section due to the congestion. It has become extremely difficult to maintain vehicle movement. People vent their anger on us without understanding the situation," he added.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority drained some of the water and cleared the road for easier movement. Though vehicle movement has become smoother, there is still
congestion on the Tongi Station Road.

BRT Project Director Mahirul Islam said a sustainable construction project is underway. There will be no more suffering upon the completion of the work in November.

Traffic police in Uttara and Gulshan divisions on Tuesday advised people on their social media handles and websites to avoid those areas due to bad road conditions.