Government authorities have pinpointed 155 potential traffic congestion hotspots along various highways across the country, gearing up for the anticipated surge in travel during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

In a meeting convened at the BRTA headquarters on Thursday (March 21), stakeholders discussed strategies to monitor these locations and ensure hassle-free journeys for home-bound travelers.

During the meeting, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader underscored the importance of bolstering the capacity of highway police and the BRTA to effectively implement plans aimed at mitigating traffic congestion.

Among the identified congestion-prone areas, 48 are situated along the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, 52 along the North Bengal highway, six along the Mymensingh highway, 41 along the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, and eight along the Dhaka-Paturia-Aricha highway, as informed by ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division.

Various factors contribute to traffic snarls at these spots, including the presence of bus terminals and ticket counters along highways, unauthorized passenger drop-off points, roadside markets, U-turns, toll collection delays at bridges, pedestrian crossings, and ongoing road development projects.

To alleviate congestion and ensure smooth travel during Eid, several decisions were made during the meeting. These include closing trucks, covered vans, and lorries on highways for three days before and after Eid, with exceptions for vehicles transporting essential commodities.

Additionally, other measures such as keeping CNG refueling stations operational 24/7 in the week leading up to and following Eid, completing highway renovation works beforehand, and halting three-wheelers on highways were discussed and agreed upon.

While addressing reporters, Minister Quader acknowledged the inevitability of some traffic congestion during Eid but emphasized the importance of implementing effective measures to minimize disruptions.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to curb extortion and cautioned bus companies against overcharging passengers.

Furthermore, Quader criticized the poor condition of some vehicles, stressing the need for improvements in the transportation sector.

Meanwhile, Shahjahan Khan, President of the Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, proposed temporarily suspending toll collection on bridges to ease congestion and alleviate passenger suffering during Eid.

However, the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity raised concerns about the implementation of decisions, urging technological interventions and direct interventions from the road transport ministry to ensure road safety and prevent accidents during the festive season.