Jamuna Bridge, Dhaka-Sylhet highway likely to cause Eid travel woes
Incomplete road projects, manual tolls and roadside markets add pressure on highways
Incomplete four-lane expansion near the Jamuna Bridge, manual toll collection, and sluggish progress in upgrading the Dhaka-Sylhet highway are likely to trigger severe congestion during the upcoming Eid rush, even as the government promises a smooth journey for homebound travellers.
However, passengers travelling on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, Dhaka-Aricha highway, the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway and the Dhaka Bypass Road may face comparatively less disruption.
Advance ticket sales for long-distance buses for Eid travel began Tuesday. Usually, traffic pressure from homebound travellers increases on highways after the 20th day of Ramadan.
However, the government says Eid travel will be comfortable this year. Although concerns were raised over traffic conditions at several highway points during internal preparation meetings of relevant agencies, officials maintain that the Eid journey will remain smooth.
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Speaking last Saturday, the minister said, "Eid travel will be more comfortable and safer than at any other time. Necessary instructions have been given to the ministry to take all required preparations."
Preparations had already been taken to avoid congestion on the Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Chattogram highways, he added.
"Strict action will be taken if transport operators charge extra fares," he said.
Jamuna Bridge remains a bottleneck
In the past, travellers faced severe congestion at Aminbazar Bridge, a key entry point linking Dhaka with northern districts.
However, the situation has improved significantly after construction of the second eight-lane Aminbazar-Gabtoli bridge and an underpass alongside the existing four-lane bridge.
Still, the 19-kilometre stretch of the Jamuna Bridge west approach highway in Sirajganj remains one of the most troublesome sections for travellers from around 20 to 22 districts in northern Bangladesh.
Construction work to upgrade the 13.5-kilometre section from Elenga to Jamuna Bridge on the Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway into four lanes is progressing slowly. Although the project duration has already exceeded three years, only about 50% of the work has been completed so far.
As a result, travellers frequently face disruption on this highway. Traffic congestion worsens significantly during Eid travel, and passengers using the route fear the same situation may occur this year as well.
The Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway is one of the country's largest highway corridors. Travellers from 24 districts in northern and southern Bangladesh can now travel smoothly from Joydebpur to Elenga after completion of the four-lane expansion on that section. However, the contractor has yet to complete the four-lane work between Elenga and Jamuna Bridge.
Ziaul Haque, a resident of Sirajganj who frequently travels on the route, told The Business Standard, "If the roadwork between Tangail and Jamuna Bridge had been completed, our suffering would have reduced significantly. But vehicles still cannot move smoothly because construction is ongoing.
"Moreover, the toll collection system at Jamuna Bridge remains manual. Unless the system is improved, vehicles sometimes have to wait two to three hours at the toll plaza."
Meanwhile, Sirajganj district police have introduced special escort services on the busy highway to ensure safe and smooth travel for passengers heading to northern districts during Ramadan and Eid.
In a statement on Tuesday, the district police said the initiative was taken to reduce traffic congestion, prevent robberies and ensure passenger safety on the Jamuna Bridge west highway, which serves as the main corridor between Dhaka and northern Bangladesh.
Roadside markets worsen Gazipur congestion
Another key corridor for travellers from Dhaka to northern districts is the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Passengers usually face severe congestion on this road during Eid travel, particularly between Mohakhali in Dhaka and Gazipur. Traffic becomes normal after Gazipur towards Mymensingh.
Under normal conditions, the journey from Dhaka to Mymensingh takes about four hours. During Eid, however, the travel time increases to six to seven hours.
Roadside markets, illegal structures and poor traffic management are among the main causes of congestion along this highway. These factors often trigger severe traffic jams in Gazipur.
On Tuesday, residents in Sreepur of Gazipur formed a human chain protesting the leasing of roadside market spaces that occupy highway lanes.
Little progress in upgrading Dhaka-Sylhet highway
Despite two years passing since the project began, there has been little progress in upgrading the Dhaka-Sylhet highway to six lanes, particularly in the Sylhet section. Land acquisition complications and other administrative issues have slowed the project, which may increase further disruption for travellers during the upcoming Eid journey.
According to project data, the work is scheduled to be completed in December this year, but there are concerns about whether it will finish on time. The project began in January 2024 with an estimated cost of about Tk17,000 crore, but progress has remained unsatisfactory.
Out of the 92-kilometre stretch from Sherpur in Sylhet to Tamabil, only about 14% of the work has been completed over the past two years. Ongoing bridge and culvert construction and other development activities along the highway are also causing disruption for vehicles.
Debashish Roy, project manager of the Dhaka-Sylhet six-lane highway project, said contractors must be given three years after receiving land handover to complete the work, which is why the project is taking longer.
Congestion hotspots on major highways
Meanwhile, congestion is also expected during Eid travel on parts of the Dhaka-Aricha highway up to Nabinagar and on the Nabinagar-Baipail-Chandra corridor.
Several sections of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, including Sonargaon in Narayanganj, the Nimsar Bazar area and the Cumilla Bishwa Road area, may also experience congestion.
Measures announced
Sources at the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry said instructions have been issued to complete all road repair work by the 15th day of Ramadan. Trucks carrying rods, sand, cement and stones will also be restricted from using highways for seven days – three days before Eid, on Eid day and three days after Eid. Transport of food, medicine and fuel will remain normal.
Additional Inspector General of Highway Police Md Delwar Hossain Mian said, "We hope Eid travel this year will be more comfortable than before. Around 3,500 police personnel have already been deployed on highways. If we receive specific complaints of extortion on the roads, action will be taken immediately."
