Eid journey: Huge rush for bus, train as people leave Dhaka

Friday marked the start of the Eid travel rush, with many people leaving Dhaka for their hometowns. Many people are starting their journeys early, with only two working days left before the Eid holidays begin.

This led to increased traffic on both roads and railways.

Our correspondent reported heavy traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and Bangabandhu Expressway, with some congestion at toll plazas. 

Traffic on the highways increased significantly on Thursday night and continued throughout Friday.

Humayun Kabir, in charge of Gajaria Highway Police Outpost, said traffic was slow between the Meghna Bridge and Daudkandi Meghna-Gomti Bridge due to heavy congestion. He attributed this to narrower sections of the highway after crossing the bridge in Cumilla.

Long tailbacks at Padma Bridge toll plaza on 5 April 2024. Photo: TBS

Meanwhile, there were short delays at toll plazas on the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Expressway and the Mawa section of the Padma Bridge.

However, traffic flowed smoothly overall, with separate lanes designated for motorcycles and cars.

Munshiganj Executive Engineer Nahian Reza said the number of vehicles using the Padma Bridge has not yet doubled compared to normal days, despite expectations for a surge during Eid.

Aminul Haider, an engineer at the Padma Bridge toll plaza, confirmed normal traffic flow, with some temporary congestion due to a temporary increase in car arrivals.

"The Padma Bridge allows for smooth passage with separate lanes for buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles. There is a decrease in motorcycle traffic compared to earlier in the morning," Aminul said.

Crowds at Kamalapur station, trains running smoothly

Kamalapur Railway Station was packed with passengers throughout Friday. A scout member managing crowd control reported a large morning crowd that thinned around noon before picking up again later in the day.

Ticket checks were implemented at three points to deter ticketless passengers.

For those without tickets, standing tickets were available. These tickets, representing 25% of the Shovon class seats on each train, are sold two hours before departure.

However, high demand quickly depleted the standing ticket stock, leaving some passengers without options and forcing them to wait for the next train.

Photo: TBS

Despite these challenges, passengers expressed satisfaction with the overall travel experience.

Mohammad Samsuddin, travelling to Mymensingh, said he was happy to secure a ticket after missing the previous train.

Similarly, Ashraf Khan, a Jamuna Express passenger, appreciated the lack of overcrowding and the smooth boarding process despite additional security checks.

Additionally, train operations remained largely on schedule throughout the day.

Station Master Masud Sarwar confirmed this while acknowledging an anticipated increase in passenger volume over the coming days. He assured that measures are in place to facilitate passenger entry and boarding.

To address potential ticketless travel, Masud explained the three-tier ticket-checking system. He also clarified that the slight increase in station dwell time (2-4 minutes due to security checks) did not constitute a schedule disruption.

Sarwar concluded by mentioning the addition of eight Eid special trains to the existing 42 daily pairs, boosting nationwide passenger capacity. He estimated that the railways could accommodate 1.5 lakh passengers departing Dhaka and 2.5 lakh passengers from all over Bangladesh each day during Eid.

Shyamoli NR Paribahan counter at Technical bus terminal [on the left] and Gabtoli bus terminal [on the right] on 5 April 2024. Photo: Foisal Ahmed

Fewer passengers at Gabtoli, Technical terminals

Meanwhile, bus terminals in Gabtoli and Technical experienced a lower passenger volume compared to previous Eids.

Officials attributed this shift to the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, with southern passengers now departing from Jatrabari and Gulistan terminals.

"Gabtoli now primarily serves passengers travelling north," explained Mohammad Ali of Eagle Paribahan. "This has caused a significant drop in Eid passenger numbers here."

Noyon Miah, a counter master at Hanif Paribahan, confirmed a similar trend. "Kallyanpur has become the main hub for northern destinations. Some passengers even buy tickets at Gabtoli but wait for their buses at Kallyanpur."

While the Technical terminal witnessed more passengers than Gabtoli, officials hesitated to call it crowded.

"Buses have been full since yesterday, and today is no different," said Sushil Babu of Syamoli NR Paribahan. "However, the increased number of trips prevents overcrowding."

Khairul Islam from Shahjadpur Travels echoed this sentiment, highlighting their plan to run 22 trips today instead of the usual 14.

Passengers like Md Tarikul Islam, an electrician from Dinajpur, observed a moderate flow. "The terminal is neither empty nor overly crowded," he said, expressing hope for a smooth journey.

Despite the lack of advance ticket purchases, some passengers were still able to secure seats on departing buses due to the increased number of trips.

Sopna Akter, a student from Naogaon, made a last-minute decision to travel home for Eid and fortunately found the last available ticket at Shyamoli Paribahan upon arriving at the terminal.

Notably, the fare adhered to government regulations, and she was not required to pay an Eid tip.

Smooth operations at Kallyanpur, Saidabad terminals

Bus terminals in Kallyanpur and Saidabad reported smooth operations on Friday.

Buses departed for destinations on schedule, with no significant passenger pressure. This efficiency is attributed to the lack of traffic congestion on the roads, allowing quicker round trips and increased service frequency.

"Reduced travel times enable us to run more trips," explained Nurun Nabi Hossein of Nabil Paribahan in Kallyanpur.

While all seats were filled, he noted the absence of overcrowding. He anticipated potentially increasing the daily service from the usual 50-52 trips to 62 during Eid, depending on demand and road conditions.

Tonmoy, a counter master at Desh Travel, confirmed the positive impact of improved road conditions. "Faster round trips are now possible due to the excellent road conditions," he said, mentioning 13 departures to northern districts by 1:30pm and plans for 30 daily trips during Eid.

He expects non-air-conditioned buses to be fully booked, with potentially some empty seats on air-conditioned options.

Saidur Rahman, a student travelling to Chapainawabganj, switched from trains to buses due to unavailable train tickets. He expressed hope for a smooth journey, particularly if the Sirajganj area remains free of tailbacks.

Masum Islam, a counter assistant at Hamdan Express, noted a lower-than-usual passenger volume on Friday. "We expect the pressure to increase closer to Eid," he said.

Saidabad terminal also observed a relaxed atmosphere, with passengers purchasing tickets on the spot.

This trend has led to a more relaxed atmosphere at the terminal, with passengers expressing satisfaction at the ease of obtaining tickets and the absence of overcrowding.

Satkhira-bound passenger Abdul Gaffar highlighted the ease of obtaining tickets and the lack of price hikes, concluding, "It is a great feeling to have a hassle-free journey home before Eid."

Launches see lower passenger volume

The launch sector mirrored the situation on land with a lower-than-usual passenger volume.

Alamgir Kabir, joint director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, confirmed this lack of significant pressure.

"While passenger numbers have increased slightly compared to normal days, the rise is not substantial. Even during peak hours like 7pm, the pontoons have not seen many passengers," he said.