Desk Report: Train passengers faced trouble at the Kamalapur Railway Station, the largest railway in the country, as most of the trains failed to maintain schedule due to huge rush of homebound people, reports Asian Age.
Passengers blamed the mismanagement at railway station for disarray of schedule. But the railway authorities didn’t agree to accept it as a schedule collapse.
Passengers claimed that, most of the trains left the station at least an hour later the scheduled time, while train authorities said passengers took more time to get into the trains due to huge rush resulting to the delay.
Amzad Hossain, Director General of the Kamalapur Railway Station said, “We tried to maintain the schedule of trains. But, the effort went in vain due to huge rush of passengers and shortage of trains and compartments compared to the demand. However, we have already opened four control rooms to monitor the situation.”
On the other hand, severe traffic congestions were seen on the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-North Bengal highways due to huge pressure of vehicles.
Transport drivers and workers said, long tailback was created on the Dhaka-Chattagram highway due to construction work of Meghna, Gomoti and Daudkandi bridges. Besides, vehicles can’t move fast due to delay for toll collection at Daudkandi toll plaza in Cumilla. Same condition was seen on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-North Bengal highways.
Construction of the Dhaka-Tangail four lanes was the main reason behind the traffic congestion on Dhaka-North Bengal highway, according to transport workers.
Aminul Islam, a traffic police official at Sergeant of Hatikumrul Highway in Sirajganj told The Asian Age that, the Nalka bridge is at a risky state. For this reason, there is a direction to cross the bridge in a slow manner. As a result, gridlock on the road is being created.
Traffic congestion took serious turn from Tongi to Chandana on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Passengers faced immense suffering during their journey as they got stuck up in the traffic congestions. They were able to reach their destinations after additional eight to ten hours. Alongside, transport shortage on roads added more woes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Romesh Chandra Ghosh, Vice President of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association and Managing Director of Shyamoli Paribahan told The Asian Age that, many owners did not bring their vehicles out fearing the check of licenses and fitness. Consequently, a shortage of vehicles has been created on different routes.
Mosharraf Hossain, General Manager of Hanif Paribahan said, shortage of public transports on different routes has now become another cause of sufferings. People can’t reach homes easily.