CHATTOGRAM, May 08: Traffic congestion, accompanied with sweltering heat, has made public life unbearable during the holy month of Ramadan.
Vehicles on the city roads have to stay motionless for hours, causing the untold sufferings to the commuters.
The present vehicular scenario on the city streets manifests virtual collapse of traffic network.
Behind the messy traffic situation, illegal occupation of the city footpaths is to be blamed mostly, which narrows down the streets, impeding movement of both the vehicles and pedestrians.
Aiming to reduce public sufferings, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has taken a plan to expand the roads at 41 wards and the authorities will construct 24 parking spots in the city.
Besides, several steps are likely to be taken very soon to restore discipline in transport sector of the port city, sources said.
To that end, the authorities have worked out a set of plans.
Meanwhile, a committee led by CCC Mayor A J M Nasir Uddin was formed to restore discipline in the transport sector.
The committee recommended evicting all hawkers from the footpaths.
Footpaths on both sides of the roads, particularly the main roads, remain occupied by the hawkers, shrinking space for movement of pedestrians.
Various road stretches have also been turned into unauthorised parking lots aggravating woes of the commuters.
Chief of the committee Mayor Nasir Uddin said, "I'll make the footpaths free from illegal occupation of hawkers very soon. I've already held several meetings with the leaders of hawkers. A plan is underway to arrange some alternatives so that hawkers can sell their goods. But I have firmly decided that the footpaths will be freed from illegal occupation of hawkers at any cost to make the city liveable."
"The city corporation will expand the roads at 41 wards in the city to reduce traffic congestion. Besides, we will take all steps to make the transport sector in Chattogram a systematic one," he added.
Sources at the Traffic Department of the Chattgoram Metropolitan Police (CMP) said the authorities will sit with the transport leaders soon to discuss how to bring back discipline in the sector.
The police administration will prevent illegal parking, specially roadside parking of vehicles.
Besides, the newly-formed committee has also recommended introducing 'counter system' bus services in the city.
Meanwhile, CMP Traffic Department is taking steps to set up parking spots at 24 important places of the city at its own cost.
A CMP official said, "Lack of parking space is one of the prime causes of traffic congestion in Chattogram. We will propose to the mayor to set up 24 parking spots in the city."
The arterial roads of the city covering Katgor to Bohadder Hat, New Market to Bohadderhat via Chawkbazar, GEC point to Alonker More, Chattogram city to Chattogram University, New Market to Airport Road constantly face gridlock as most portions of the roads remain occupied with illegally parked cars.
It may be mentioned that Road and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader held a meeting with the owners and workers of auto-rickshaws at Chattogram Circuit House earlier. At the meeting, he directed the CCC mayor to work to remove the prevailing chaos in the transport sector of the port city.
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