Highway cops plan easy Eid journey

The police have decided to put in their best efforts this time to rid the homebound people of the trouble of being stuck up in traffic gridlock on highways during the upcoming Eid celebration.
They have identified the vulnerable points on outbound routes from the capital where transports carrying homebound Eid-holidaymakers get caught in the gridlock every year and they are now planning appropriate actions to face the situation.
Officials of the police say they have chalked out special arrangements to make the movement through the country's highway smooth round the clock ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr which sees huge traffic rush.
For alleviating perennial public sufferings of this sort on highways, the special police department has identified around two dozen points or intersections which often cause such road blockades. Accordingly, combined efforts have been planned to ensure smooth movement of rush-time traffic.
Senior officials at the force, however, pinpointed dilapidated conditions of roads, unfit vehicles and roadside makeshift markets as the major challenges to ensuring safe and timely journey of the holidaymakers.

Contacted, Deputy Inspector-General (Highway Police) Asaduzzaman Miah said they have made special arrangements on the country's major highways that take the traffic load. These are: Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Faridpur.
"We've already deployed permanent policemen and paid serious attention to intersections like Chandra, Kanchpur, Moghrapara, Mawna, Aminbazar, Savar, Goalanda, Chandana Chowrasta and Bhulta to avert traffic congestion. We've also suspended leave of our officials for the sake of strong monitoring," he said.
He said additional measures will also be taken at ferry ghats (stations) and toll plazas at the country's key bridges for smooth movement of passenger buses.
According to the traffic arrangements, several dozen patrol and mobile teams will be in operation to prevent reckless driving and force the drivers to follow the designated lanes.
Besides, around 15 wreckers will also be positioned at various strategic points to shift vehicles becoming out of order on the highways.
Talking to the FE, Superintendent of Police (East) of the Department Rezaul Karim said they would also develop community policing at many locations to free the roads from illegal occupation. Such capture of roads is one of the main reasons for severe traffic congestion.
They also requested the government ministry and department concerned to take tougher stance against unfit vehicles. "We're ready to reach the holidaymakers to their respective destinations in time by proper use of the limited resources."
Experts and transport owners hailed the move with a request to the authorities concerned of paying serious attention to the entry and exit points to the capital where vehicles have been witnessing severe gridlock.  
"It becomes very tough to leave and enter the city because of gridlock in Jatrabari, Abdullahpur and Gabtoli areas," General Secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity Khandaker Enayetullah said.
He said dilapidated conditions of the highways because of construction and poor maintenance activities could be a cause of serious pain to the passengers.