Holiday rush causes traffic congestion on Gazipur highways

Heavy traffic and overcrowding were reported on major highways in Gazipur on Wednesday as thousands of people travelled to their hometowns for the three-day July Uprising holiday.

Large crowds gathered at Chandra intersection on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and at Chandana and Maona intersections on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway from early morning, causing traffic congestion in several areas.

According to the Industrial Police, workers from factories in Gazipur were granted a three-day break, prompting a surge in homebound travel.

Passengers also alleged that transport operators had sharply increased fares amid the heavy demand, with some reporting fares rising from around Tk 500 to as high as Tk 800 or more.

Highway Police said they were working to ease congestion and had warned transport operators against charging excessive fares.

SKS