SCC to build roundabouts, dividers to ease gridlock

To ease traffic gridlock, Sylhet City Corporation has taken initiatives to establish roundabouts and MS (mild steel) road dividers at important points of the streets, said SCC officials.

The authorities have taken steps to set up four roundabouts at Kazirbazar Bridge approach point, Babna, Chowhatta and Tilagorh, they said, adding that the SCC is also situating 22 MS steel dividers, which are strong, cost effective and contain small percentage of carbon. At least 10 important points and 30 roads including Zindabazar, Bandarbazar, Amberkhana, Lamabazar, Kajalshah and Shibganj suffer from severe traffic congestion, claimed residents.

Jaman Tapadar, a resident who travels from Bateswar to Zindabazar regularly, said the drive usually takes 25-30 minutes by a bus, human-hauler or auto-rickshaw; but it takes at least an hour due to the heavy traffic.

Nikulin Chakma, additional deputy commissioner (traffic) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star that the metropolitan traffic police have only 115 members including sergeants to maintain the traffic in two shifts a day but they need at least 250. “We have already spoken to the authorities concerned regarding the manpower crisis. Hopefully they will take care of this situation soon,” he added. “Meanwhile, we have requested the corporation to put some dividers on important city roads,” he said.

Enamul Habib, chief executive officer of SCC, said, “We are taking steps to lessen the crisis. To plan and implement the roundabouts and dividers, the traffic authority is also helping us.”