10 km of Elenga to Jamuna Bridge opens on Monday. Photo : BSS

TANGAIL, Mar 21, 2025 (BSS) – Eid journey of holidaymakers of the country’s northern region will be more comfortable as 10 km of total 13.5 km road from Elenga to Jamuna Bridge will be opened for traffic on March 24 ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Homebound people will start leaving the capital almost a week before Eid-ul-Fitr while the government announced many initiatives promising traffic jam-free Eid journey.

However, the commuters fear about unfit buses and trucks during the Eid journey. They are also worried about traffic jam as the work on the four-lane road from Elenga to the east bank of the Jamuna Bridge was not completed yet.

During normal times, 15 to 20 thousand vehicles from 23 districts including North Bengal ply on this highway and the number multiplies during the Eid journey. Due to narrow road after the four-lane facility on Dhaka-Tangail highway movement of all vehicles become slow at Elenga point.

Frequent accidents on two-lane Jamuna Bridge, traffic mismanagement at the round crossing on the east bank of the bridge and slow speed of vehicles are causing regular traffic congestion.

After completion of the work of six lanes including the service lane from Chandra to Elenga on the Dhaka-Tangail highway may reduce the suffering to a great extent. However, the four-lane work from Elenga to the Jamuna Bridge is underway.

During any festival, the number of vehicles from the capital to the northern region of this road increases at least three times. Unfit buses and trucks including covered vans are used to carry people.

Rabiul Awal, project manager of Abdul Monem Limited, the contractor responsible for construction of the road, said the work of four-lane road from Elenga to Jamuna Bridge is underway.

However, on the occasion of Eid, 10 kilometers of the road will be opened for traffic from March 24. he said adding hoping that people of North Bengal will be able to enjoy the benefits of the four lanes project in coming Eid.

Jamuna Bridge Site Office Executive Engineer Ahsanul Kabir Pavel told BSS that the bridge authorities are ready to ensure that vehicles can cross the bridge smoothly. Toll collection will remain opened round the clock on the Jamuna Bridge during this Eid vacation.

However, to avoid inconvenience, nine more tolls collection booths will be set up at both ends of the bridge. Apart from this, there will be two separate booths for motorcycles.