DHAKA, March 12, 2025 (BSS) - The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) today issued a set of directives that include taking prior permission for road cutting in the capital, aiming to regulate vehicular movement and alleviate persistent traffic congestion.

The DMP has also urged all relevant authorities to carry out road digging at night instead of in the daytime to ensure efficient and timely completion of the work.

"If any organization violates these conditions of road cutting and digging and disrupts vehicle movement in the Dhaka metropolitan area, appropriate legal action will be taken against the contractor and those authorities concerned," said a DMP statement signed by its Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali.

The DMP has sought the cooperation of all concerned organizations and contractors to abide by the instructions.

The instructions are given below:

1. Road excavation or cutting must not be initiated without obtaining prior consent from the DMP headquarters.

2. Any road excavation work between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm is strictly prohibited, and it is required that such work be conducted at night and the roads be made accessible for traffic by morning.

3. Before cutting the road, the following things should be ensured:

a) The start and completion times of the work, including the specific dates must be announced in advance, and the work must be finished within the stipulated timeframe.

b) Appropriate traffic instructions and traffic signal lights should be installed at the road excavation site and up to 200 meters before/after it;

c) The required number of manpower must be appointed so that the work can be completed within the stipulated timeframe;

d) Alternative roads must be provided for pedestrians and vehicles;
e) Iron sheets must be arranged in advance before cutting the road to ensure its usability after excavation.

f) A lane of the road can be cut at night, but it must be made usable before sunrise;

g) Excavation should not be carried out on both sides of the same road at the same time under any circumstances.

h) Road excavation work must be done at night with representatives of the DMP Traffic Department;

i) Any road may be excavated at night for a maximum of seven days and must be repaired within the following three nights, ensuring the deployment of the highest possible number of workers and technicians for timely completion.