Tejgaon Road encroached again, half of the road occupied by trucks and pickups
The capital’s Tejgaon Road has once again fallen into the hands of squatters. Trucks and pickups stand along the road 24 hours a day. As a result, the purpose for which the road was built to free the area from encroachment is being disrupted every day. Although the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) says that they will build a multi-storey building in that area only for parking. Once the building is built, Tejgaon Road will be free from encroachment.
It can be seen on the ground that trucks, pickups and covered vans are occupying two lanes of the four-lane road. Although it looks like a garage, it is Tejgaon Road. Not only is the road occupied by illegal parking, but car repair work is also going on in some places.
Somewhere, trucks have climbed onto the sidewalks. If this is the case on the main road, it is easy to imagine what the condition of the lanes is. Cars are blocking the way for rickshaws or vans to pass in the service lane. As a result, passengers and pedestrians are suffering. They say that half of the roads have been blocked by trucks and lorries. This is creating traffic jams. The suffering of the common people is increasing.
After several attempts a decade ago, the Dhaka North City Corporation liberated the roads of Tejgaon in 2015. Later, a four-lane road was built. But after two to two and a half years, all the roads of Tejgaon have been encroached upon again.
Drivers claim that they are forced to park their cars on the main road due to the lack of designated parking. They say that they are forced to park their cars on the road because the truck station is full. If there is an opportunity to park there, there will be no need to park cars on the road.
Police and transport owners are saying the same thing. They say that this situation is due to the shortage of space. Deputy Police Commissioner of Traffic-Tejgaon Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md. Rafiqul Islam said that the space allocated in Tejgaon for trucks coming to the capital is very small compared to the need.
Admitting the problem, the city corporation said that an initiative has been taken to construct a multi-storey building for parking. However, that work has also been stalled due to land-related complications. DNCC administrator Mohammad Ejaz said that long-term plans are being made to construct a multi-storey building for parking. Work will start as soon as the land is acquired.
The locals demand that the authorities do whatever is necessary to ensure that the purpose for which this road was built is successful.
