Commuters in Chattogram are facing severe traffic congestion around major shopping hubs as Eid shopping intensifies, with inadequate parking facilities and unplanned development leaving key roads partially blocked during evening hours.
Bank officer Gias Uddin said he needed nearly 40 minutes to traverse a mere two-kilometre stretch from Mehedibag to 2 No. Gate intersection.
He said he left home after Taraweeh prayers for an urgent task, but soon became stuck in prolonged traffic congestion as heavy Eid shopping traffic slowed vehicles to a crawl.
"I got caught in gridlock at both Probortok intersection and Golpahar. It felt almost impossible to get out," he said.
At Afmi Plaza and the newly opened Moin Orchid complex, many shoppers were seen getting off vehicles directly on the roadside, forcing moving vehicles to slow down and creating bottlenecks.
Congestion has also been reported around other busy market areas, including 2 No. Gate, GEC intersection, Terry Bazar, Wasa Circle, New Market intersection, Kotwali, Station Road, Golpahar intersection, Kazir Dewri, and the Laldighi Maidan area.
Parvin Akter, a teacher who came to Terry Bazar for Eid shopping recently, said the lack of proper traffic management around markets was causing difficulties for shoppers.
"Some volunteers try to stop drivers from parking randomly, but many drivers ignore them," she said.
Police, businessmen, and shoppers said the situation usually worsens before iftar and after Taraweeh prayers.
Abdul Mannan, president of the Terry Bazar Business Association, said, "The area developed in an unplanned way over the years."
He added that the association has taken several steps to manage the situation, including establishing a separate parking arrangement and restricting battery-run rickshaws in the market zone.
"We have also appointed volunteers to prevent passengers from getting on and off vehicles on the road. We are in regular contact with the police and other law enforcement agencies," he said.
"Only a few markets have parking spaces, and those are not enough. Still, we are trying to manage the situation considering the reality," he added.
A traffic sergeant on duty at the busy New Market intersection on Wednesday said the lack of pedestrian-friendly footbridges at major intersections forces people to cross roads randomly.
"As pedestrians cross the road without following rules, vehicles have to slow down, which creates traffic congestion," he said.
Liaquat Ali Khan, deputy commissioner (Traffic-South) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, said, "There are many shopping malls in the port city, but the roads are comparatively narrow. That is one of the main reasons for severe congestion."
"Many people come to markets by private car. Some drivers stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to pick up or drop off passengers. This is not allowed, and it worsens traffic," the police officer said.
"Earlier, our duty continued until 11:00pm. Now we stay on the roads until the markets close. Many of us even break our fast on the streets while managing traffic so that people get some relief from congestion," he added.
