Rain, shoppers leave capital in gridlocks

Situation could get worse in coming days, warn cops

A little rain is all it took to trigger a massive traffic snarl in the capital yesterday. As rickshaws took over the streets leading to the New Market, the entire stretch of the Mirpur Road, New Elephant Road and the Kazi Nazrul Isam Avenue witnessed a massive tailback leaving commuters stuck for hours.
Gawsia markets too seized momentum and took control of the wide Mirpur Road, leaving traffic movement at a snail's pace.
A little down to Shahbagh and Farm Gate, recklessly driven vehicles had to stop to make way for rickshaws, while pedestrians crossing the intersection at Bangla Motor battled automobiles moving past on the wrong side of the road.
The traffic police appeared to have given up at all intersections where rickshaws were seen carrying Eid shoppers, particularly women, to the Gawsia. The availability of items at this market – lingerie to saris, slippers, bangles and perfumes – has drawn all city women from far and wide.
People trying to visit the Elephant Road on rickshaws for slippers and shoes led to further clogging of the streets. The two-lane New Elephant Road, regarded as the street for shoes and shirts, panjabis and trousers, have already been narrowed down by sellers of iftar, slippers etc. These sellers have set their wooden platforms on the kerbside, making it a nightmare for people trying to negotiate the street during rush hour.
Remarkably, traffic policemen were nowhere to be seen, as some over-enthusiastic shoppers parked their cars between the wooden platforms set up by the vendors. The absence of policemen in trying to control traffic further contributed to the gridlock.
The traffic jam reached its peak around 4.15 PM as the rains subsided. Tailbacks were visible from the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue to the flyover at Mahakhali and from the Farm Gate to the Prime Ministers Office.
Roads leading to the Hatirjheel bypass to Gulshan down the Sonargaon crossing were already in a chaos. To add to the nightmare, some enthusiastic sports utility vehicle (SUV) drivers took on to the wrong side of the road all the way to Gulshan Niketan. They were followed by a legion of motorcycles and rickshaws making leading to a pandemonium. Traffic cops were not to be seen here as well. A news reporter travelling on a rickshaw from Gulshan circle -1 to the office of The Independent at Tejgaon took nearly two hours due to the traffic snarl, instead of the half an hour it takes normally.
The gridlock increased as the time for iftar approached nearer. The city police, however, had the patent excuse - the rains and Eid shoppers streaming towards shopping malls threw everything out of gear. However, they did have a word of advice. "There is worse in store," they warned. With the monsoon now in full steam, rains will occur every afternoon.
Moreover, with just ten days remaining for Eid-ul-Fitr, the number of shoppers will only get heavier as Eid shopping reaches its crescendo.
"So, brace for the worst,” advised a policeman, pointing to the city’s poor drainage system which is incapable of clearing the water-logging after every shower.

Rain, shoppers leave capital in gridlocks

Situation could get worse in coming days, warn cops

A little rain is all it took to trigger a massive traffic snarl in the capital yesterday. As rickshaws took over the streets leading to the New Market, the entire stretch of the Mirpur Road, New Elephant Road and the Kazi Nazrul Isam Avenue witnessed a massive tailback leaving commuters stuck for hours. Gawsia markets too seized momentum and took control of the wide Mirpur Road, leaving traffic movement at a snails pace. A little down to Shahbagh and Farm Gate, recklessly driven vehicles had to stop to make way for rickshaws, while pedestrians crossing the intersection at Bangla Motor battled automobiles moving past on the wrong side of the road. The traffic police appeared to have given up at all intersections where rickshaws were seen carrying Eid shoppers, particularly women, to the Gawsia. The availability of items at this market lingerie to saris, slippers, bangles and perfumes has drawn all city women from far and wide. People trying to visit the Elephant Road on rickshaws for slippers and shoes led to further clogging of the streets. The two-lane New Elephant Road, regarded as the street for shoes and shirts, panjabis and trousers, have already been narrowed down by sellers of iftar, slippers etc. These sellers have set their wooden platforms on the kerbside, making it a nightmare for people trying to negotiate the street during rush hour. Remarkably, traffic policemen were nowhere to be seen, as some over-enthusiastic shoppers parked their cars between the wooden platforms set up by the vendors. The absence of policemen in trying to control traffic further contributed to the gridlock. The traffic jam reached its peak around 4.15 PM as the rains subsided. Tailbacks were visible from the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue to the flyover at Mahakhali and from the Farm Gate to the Prime Ministers Office. Roads leading to the Hatirjheel bypass to Gulshan down the Sonargaon crossing were already in a chaos. To add to the nightmare, some enthusiastic sports utility vehicle (SUV) drivers took on to the wrong side of the road all the way to Gulshan Niketan. They were followed by a legion of motorcycles and rickshaws making leading to a pandemonium. Traffic cops were not to be seen here as well. A news reporter travelling on a rickshaw from Gulshan circle -1 to the office of The Independent at Tejgaon took nearly two hours due to the traffic snarl, instead of the half an hour it takes normally. The gridlock increased as the time for iftar approached nearer. The city police, however, had the patent excuse - the rains and Eid shoppers streaming towards shopping malls threw everything out of gear. However, they did have a word of advice. There is worse in store, they warned. With the monsoon now in full steam, rains will occur every afternoon. Moreover, with just ten days remaining for Eid-ul-Fitr, the number of shoppers will only get heavier as Eid shopping reaches its crescendo. So, brace for the worst, advised a policeman, pointing to the citys poor drainage system which is incapable of clearing the water-logging after every shower.