Traffic congestion in the city took to its old look soon after the lockdown was lifted on Tuesday last. Such sudden return in traffic jams caused serious delays in travelling across the city streets.
The recent lockdown was lifted on 10th August and regular activity continued from last Wednesday. The days were followed by the weekend and the National Mourning Day. Activities in the capital began at full swing from Monday leading to traffic congestions.
A small shop worker, Tahmidul Islam, told this correspondent that the distance from Kakrail to Gulistan Zero Point is one and a half kilometers and is about 20-minute walking distance. However, it took me about an hour and a half to reach my destination by bus.
Similar scenes were found in most of the city after the three-day holiday that concluded on Sunday. Offices and business reopened on Monday and huge traffic congestions across the capital were noticed as people and transport increased.
Abullah Al Manum, a banker told the correspondent that it took him double the time it usually takes to reach his office in Mohakhali.
“It usually takes around 20 minutes to reach Mohakhali from Banani by bus, however, it took around 45 minutes today. The roads were too crowded,” he said.
Fahim Rahman, who came to Tejgoan from Dhanmondi, said that the entire road from Dhanmondi to Motijheel was jam-packed. Buses were stationary at every turn for a long time.
“I thought there would the usual traffic today as the office opened after three days of holidays. But I could not imagine the amount of traffic I had to go through,” he said.
He said that as per the government instructions, half of the road transport is now active. However, the scenarios on the streets are not portraying that. There would not have been so much traffic if the transport owners complied by the government instructions.
Many public and private transport drivers said that it took double the estimated time for them to reach their destinations. Heavy traffic has been on the roads since the morning.
Many traffic policemen said that there was a lot of traffic on the road today. They had no chance to rest for a second due to the number of vehicles on the roads.
Kakrail-Gulistan experienced more traffic congestion than other places. Traffic jams were not a common sight during the lockdown throughout the last month. Dhanmondi, Tejgoan, Azimpur, Gulshan etc all roads showed similar pictures.
