Gridlocks as DNCC opens U-turns

The Dhaka North City Corporation on Saturday inaugurated 10 U-turns at different points of the road from Tejgaon Satrasta Junction to Uttara House Building to ease the suffering of commuters.

However, soon after the inauguration, severe gridlocks were seen in some of the areas.

Visiting the U-turn points, it is evident that the U-turns have caused traffic congestion on both sides of the road in the Nabisco area, Mohakhali bus terminal, and in front of Shetu Bhaban in Banani.

The newly introduced U-turns have narrowed down the roads in those and other areas, making it harder for vehicles to turn to other lanes.

For example, although the road leading to Moghbazar has three lanes, the road on the opposite side has been narrowed down to one lane due to the design of the U-turn.

A senior police official, on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard, "The U-turn slabs have more space in between them, which has taken up more space from the road. If the U-turn sections were narrower, the roads would have been wider."

DNCC authorities have opened U-turns in front of Uttara Rajlaxmi Bhaban, in front of Uttara RAB-1 office, in front of Kawla Flying Club, near Banani overpass, in front of Banani Army Stadium, in Banani Chairmanbari, in Mohakhali Amtali, in front of Mohakhali bus terminal, at the Tejgaon Nabisco junction, and near the BG Press area of Sat Rasta.

The authorities prohibited using intersections of Navy Headquarters Branch Road, Banani Road No 27, Banani Kakoli, Banani Road No 11, Mohakhali Amtali Junction, Tejgaon Kohinoor Junction, and Love Road junction, in the interest of uninterrupted and smooth traffic.

Hamiduzzaman, director of ARI of BUET, told TBS that Dhaka north made the U-turns by cutting the belly of the roads. This is making one side of the road narrow when vehicles are taking a right turn at a U-turn. As a result of the narrow road, gridlock is increasing.

"Just as paracetamol does not cure all diseases, it is not possible to reduce traffic congestion by making U-turns without proper planning," he added. 

DNCC sources said the project work started on 4 November 2017, but it was halted after the demise of former DNCC mayor Annisul Huq, but started again at full speed after a gap.

Initially, the project cost was estimated at Tk24.83 crore. However, the cost of the revised project went up to Tk31.81 crore.