On the eve of the Eid holiday, both the Bangabandhu Expressway and Dhaka-Tangail highway presented a surprisingly tranquil scene, defying the usual hustle and bustle associated with homebound travel during this festive period.
Sparse traffic dotted the otherwise deserted highways, with only a handful of vehicles breaking the silence today. This uncommon sight brought a sense of relief to travelers, who could embark on their journeys homeward without the typical hassles and congestion.
At the Padma Bridge toll plaza on the Mawa end, a sense of calm prevailed, allowing southbound vehicles to smoothly pass through the toll booths without any hindrance. Amirul Haider Chowdhury, deputy director of the Padma Bridge site office, noted the significant decrease in traffic since morning, enabling long-distance public transports to traverse the bridge without obstruction.
Yesterday, holidaymakers bound for the northern region faced severe congestion, particularly on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, prompting authorities to take measures to alleviate the situation. The closure of the west toll plaza of the Bangabandhu Bridge and temporary closures of the Dhaka-bound lane helped mitigate the congestion.
However, today witnessed a notable decrease in traffic volume, attributed to many travelers having already completed their journeys in anticipation of Eid celebrations tomorrow. Minimal traffic was reported at various points along the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge Highway, with only a few vehicles seen heading towards the northern part of the country.
Officer-in-Charge Alamgir Ashraf of Bangabandhu Bridge East Police Station reported normal traffic flow, with vehicles moving at a moderate speed along the highway.
According to Ahsanul Kabir Pavel, executive engineer of the Bangabandhu Bridge site office, a total of 47,755 vehicles crossed the Bangabandhu Bridge in the last 24 hours, resulting in significant toll collections. This included tolls collected from both the eastern and western ends of the bridge, indicating a relatively smooth passage for travelers during this pre-Eid period.
