Congestion slows down Eid journey

People streamed out of cities across the country on Wednesday on their hectic journey to near and dear ones in other districts to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha.
Traffic congestion on different highways and at ferry terminals, roof-top journey by trains, delays in train schedules and extra fares brought immense miseries to the passengers as the three-day public holiday begins Friday on the occasion of the religious festival of the Muslims. 
Since Sunday, Dhaka city dwellers rushed to Kamalapur railway station
while many people, especially children and women, rushed to Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Saidabad bus terminals and Sadarghat launch terminal to leave the capital.
Transport operators in Dhaka said that congestion on Dhaka-Tangail, Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Chittagong highways prolonged people’s Eid journey by several hours. 
Several hundred vehicles queued up at Shimulia and Paturia ferry terminals for huge pressure of vehicles and strong current in the River Padma. 
Mohakhali Bus Terminal Owners’ Association chairman Abul Kalam told New Age that it took almost double time to make journey on Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh routes due to dilapidated condition of the roads. 
‘If it rains, the situation will worsen,’ he said. 
He also said that on Monday and Tuesday many women and children left by buses from this terminal and these buses mainly went to the country’s middle area districts including Tangail and Mymensingh.
Gabtoli Bus Terminal Workers’ Committee chairman Mofizul Haque Bebu said traffic congestion was delaying bus journey to the country’s northern districts via Dhaka-Tangail highway, especially at Chandra. 
Both of the leaders said that highest number of passenger would leave the capital today. 
New Age correspondent in Tangail reported that though Gorai-Bangabandhu Bridge stretch of Dhaka-Tangail highway was almost congestion-free, vehicles remained stuck in traffic gridlock on Chandra-Baipail-Ashulia stretch. 
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that a 13-kilometre tailback of Dhaka-bound vehicles was seen on Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Gazaria because of huge pressure of traffic. 
Several hundred vehicles queued up at Shimulia pontoon to cross the River Padma on Wednesday.
More than 600, mostly cars, were seen near the pontoon about 6:00pm on the day. 
Three additional ferries to carry Eid-time passengers were yet to be put into service. 
Passengers also complained about extra fare by up to Tk 70 being charged by the sea boats on Shimulia-Kathalbari river route in front of members of law enforcement agencies. 
New Age correspondent in Manikganj reported that passengers stood in long queues at Paturia ferry terminal at Shibalay because of strong current in the Padma and huge pressure of vehicles.
Around 400 vehicles, mostly buses and microbuses, were seen to line up at the terminal around 6:00 pm on the day.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation manager (commerce) Zillur Rahaman said that at present it was taking 80 to 90 minutes to cross the Paturia-Daulatdia route due to strong current while it took 35 to 40 minutes at other times. 
Out of 18 ferries 17 were currently in operation on the route, he added.
Meanwhile New Age Tangail correspondent also reported that on Wednesday 200-metre chunk of the second guide embankment in Gorila Bari area on east side of Bangabandhu Bridge protection embankment collapsed along with 15 residences into the River Jamuna. 
Bangabandhu Bridge assistant engineer (site office) Wasim Ali said the accident would not damage the main bridge but it might affect the adjacent villages. 
Villagers from Gorila Bari, Belatia, Alipur, Burup Bari, Poulir Char, Dougati and Beri Potol villages alleged that the authorities did not take any major initiative to repair a crack that had developed in the embankment earlier. 
Mohanagar Pravati on Dhaka-Chittagong, Sundarban Express on Dhaka-Khulna, Ekota Express on Dhaka-Dinajpur and Nilsagar Express on Dhaka-Nilphamari routes left Kamalapur station up to two hours behind the schedules with a huge number of passengers on their roofs. 
The Sadarghat launch terminal saw rush of home-bound rush on Wednesday while BIWTC officials and launch owners said the rush of people would increase today. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net