Chaotic traffic, tailbacks kill hours

City dwellers are facing long traffic jams for hours at most thoroughfares at a time when the traffic wing of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) is observing a traffic month. Eid shopping has added to the problem.

Rajshahi is now virtually a city of rickshaws as thousands of day labourers and poor people have come here to peddle three-wheelers to earn small amounts ahead of the Eid. The number of illegal rickshaw has suddenly increased enormously. Most of the illiterate rickshaw pullers do not know traffic rules.

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As most of the footpaths in the city have gone under control of unauthorised vendors, parking lots for vehicles have become squeezed.

Due to the chaotic traffic jams, shoppers in different markets are facing difficulties to walk even.

Shaheb Bazaar zero point, New Market, Rani Bazaar, Ganakpara, Moni Chattar, Rail Gate, Bus Terminal, Court Bazaar, Talaimari Kadirganj, Malopara, Sonadighi and Collage Gate areas now never go without gridlock.

RMP has imposed a restriction on entry of trucks and other heavy vehicles to the city from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. But this is not followed, many city dwellers told this correspondent yesterday.

Truckers keep their vehicles on busy roads for hours for loading or unloading goods. Sand carrier trucks also ply the city roads despite restriction.

An unauthorised bus terminal has been set up at Kumarpara, from where buses ply crossing the busy Shaheb Bazar point. Unauthorised autotempo stands at different points have increased the traffic congestion.

RMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed however told a group of newsmen that the present traffic jam is due to Eid shopping.

Additional police have been deployed in busy points to control traffic.

He said, traffic sergeants have been directed to stop loading and unloading of trucks in city areas during daytime.

But we can not control the huge rush of rickshaws from northern districts. As the City Corporation is responsible for controlling rickshaws, police can not seize illegal rickshaws, he said.