Staff Correspondent:

Transport workers have flagged multiple points along the Dhaka-Maowa Expressway and Dhaka-Chattogram Highway as potential traffic hotspots that could cause suffering for homebound travellers during Eid journeys towards the Padma Bridge.

They have identified six potential bottlenecks on the Dhaka-Maowa Expressway in Munshiganj and six locations on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway where tailbacks are likely.

Additionally, delays in toll collection at the toll plazas of the Padma, Dhaleshwari, and Meghna-Gomti bridges may worsen the situation and cause long traffic queues.

The opening of the Padma Bridge has already transformed Eid travel for people heading to the country’s southwestern region. However, long queues and suffering at the Padma Bridge toll plaza are common due to the high volume of vehicles.

To ease the flow of traffic, Abu Sayad, an executive engineer of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, said that during the Eid rush, all 17 toll booths — eight on the Maowa side and nine on the Zajira side — will remain operational.

Among the eight lanes on the Maowa side, one will be reserved exclusively for motorcycles. If traffic increases, an additional lane will be opened for motorcycles, which typically see a significant surge during Eid.

“Many travellers will also be coming to Dhaka from the southern region for Eid,” said Abu Sayad. “We’ve made similar preparations at the Zajira end, where two of the nine lanes will be dedicated to motorcycles.”

He added that adequate change will be available at toll booths to speed up collections. Moreover, one lane on each side has been allocated for the Electronic Toll Collection System (ETCS), which will allow vehicles equipped with ETCS tags to pass through without manual transactions. The system is currently being piloted but is expected to open to the public soon.

In preparation for emergencies, two recovery vehicles will be stationed at both ends of the Padma Bridge. Additionally, four patrol cars with trained personnel will monitor the bridge area, while fire vehicles will be on standby on both sides.

On Mar 24, the first day of the Eid rush, 18,115 vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge, with 9,285 vehicles passing through the Maowa end. Total toll collection on that day was Tk 24.45 million. Officials expect the number of vehicles to increase significantly as the Eid rush intensifies.

Meanwhile, a major potential bottleneck is Chanbari in Sreenagar on the Dhaka-Maowa Expressway, where travellers often face delays. The road features a crossing beneath the four-lane expressway and service roads, serving as a crucial link between Sreenagar Upazila and Munshiganj Sadar, often resulting in traffic congestion.

Another congestion-prone spot is the Dogachi weigh station in Sreenagar, where truck weighing causes delays that spill over, trapping other vehicles.

At Khanbari, near the Padma Bridge North Police Station, random stops by vehicles and disorganised passenger loading and unloading lead to persistent jams. Traffic also tends to build up at Bejgaon in Sreenagar, adding to the challenges.

The situation is further compounded at the Dhaleshwari-1 Toll Plaza in Keraniganj, where long lines form as vehicles enter Munshiganj due to slow toll collection.

Bus driver Harun Sheikh, who frequently uses the route, pointed out that along with high-speed vehicles, slow-moving vehicles like autorickshaws, battery-run vehicles, and covered vans also use the expressway. This mix of speeds often leads to accidents and congestion. He suggested creating dedicated lanes for slow-moving vehicles to reduce disruption.

Another driver, Apel Mia, stressed the importance of law enforcement presence. “If the police manage traffic properly, the suffering will be less. There’s no problem when vehicles stay in line — but the moment someone breaks formation, that’s when the trouble starts,” he said.

On the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, a 13-kilometre stretch through Gazaria in Munshiganj regularly sees long traffic jams, particularly in Jamaldi, Baluakandi, Bhaterchar, Bhoberchar, Maddha Bausia, and Pakhir Mor. Of these, Bhoberchar Bus Stand is especially problematic, frequently experiencing severe congestion.

This stand serves Matlab North and South Upazilas of Chandpur, as well as Cumilla, Chattogram, and other districts. In addition, more than 20,000 local commuters use this stretch daily, a number that multiplies during Eid. This surge leads to not only traffic jams but also a shortage of available vehicles.

Similar problems are reported at the Meghna and Meghna-Gomti bridge toll plazas, where queues often build up. Authorities are working to ease congestion in these critical areas.

Bhoberchar Highway Police Station chief Shawkat Hossain said that to ensure passenger and vehicle safety on the highway, four Highway Police teams and three regular police teams have been deployed. Highway Police boxes are set up at multiple points, and patrols have intensified ahead of Eid.

Munshiganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Firoz Kabir said that a range of measures was being implemented to ensure smooth travel along the Dhaka-Maowa Expressway and Dhaka-Chattogram Highway during Eid.

He added that meetings have been held with Padma Bridge authorities and other stakeholders to expedite toll collection and prevent congestion at the Padma Bridge and Dhaleshwari-1 Bridge toll points.

Preparations have also been made to prevent jams at the Padma Bridge weigh station, Khanbari point, and Chanbari in Sreenagar.

Strict speed limits of 80 kph have been enforced on the expressway, and speeding vehicles are being fined. Additionally, plainclothes officers are working to prevent crimes such as robberies along the highways. Over 400 police personnel are deployed across the two major highways to maintain order.

Authorities emphasised that ensuring a smooth and safe Eid journey requires awareness and cooperation from passengers, drivers, and transport workers. Strict measures must be taken to keep unfit, ramshackle vehicles off the roads.

Motorcyclists and their pillion passengers must wear helmets and control their speed. To reduce accidents and congestion, pedal rickshaws, battery-run vehicles, CNG-powered autorickshaws and other passenger vehicles should be barred from using the national highways in the days leading up to Eid, according to the authorities.

Additionally, toll plazas should deploy extra personnel to manage the traffic flow efficiently and prevent bottlenecks.