Special Correspondent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shortage of usable road space has become a daily concern in the capital, but the situation on the 100-foot Madani Avenue in the Bhatara area of Dhaka has become particularly alarming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encroachment by street vendors, the uncontrolled movement of battery-powered rickshaws and indiscriminate parking have rendered large sections of the wide road virtually unusable. According to local residents, nearly 90 feet of the road is occupied in some places, leaving only about 10 feet for vehicular movement. The situation is contributing to traffic congestion, increasing the risk of accidents and causing daily suffering for pedestrians and commuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A visit to the area reveals that street vendors have extended their stalls beyond the footpaths and onto the main road. In some places, temporary shops and businesses have been arranged in three to four rows. As a result, vehicles cannot move freely along the road, despite its original width of 100 feet. The restricted space has become a major cause of congestion, particularly during busy hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pedestrians are among those suffering the most, as both the footpaths and portions of the main road are occupied. With little space left for walking, many people are forced to move alongside moving vehicles or walk directly on the roadway. This creates additional risks for women, children and elderly people. Walking safely becomes even more difficult during the evening and at night, when pedestrian movement increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The uncontrolled movement of battery-powered rickshaws and other small vehicles is another major source of congestion. Drivers of these vehicles are often seen changing lanes abruptly, travelling against traffic, stopping at random locations and picking up or dropping off passengers in the middle of the road. Such practices disrupt the normal flow of traffic and increase the risk of sudden collisions and accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Illegal parking has further aggravated the situation. Private cars, battery-powered rickshaws and other vehicles are frequently parked along both sides of the road, near entrances and around various junctions. Combined with the occupation of road space by street vendors, the indiscriminate parking has further reduced the effective width of the road. Consequently, vehicles often have to wait for extended periods to cover even short distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Office workers, students, local residents and people travelling to various institutions face daily difficulties because of the situation. Many struggle to reach their destinations on time, while pedestrians’ ability to move safely is also being compromised. The deteriorating condition of the road has raised concerns not only about regular transportation but also about public safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local residents fear that continued encroachment could seriously obstruct emergency service vehicles. If ambulances, fire service vehicles or police vehicles cannot reach an emergency location promptly because of traffic congestion, the consequences could be severe. Traffic delays could be particularly critical when patients in life-threatening conditions need to be transported to hospitals urgently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents have called for the immediate removal of encroachments from the 100-foot Madani Avenue, restoration of footpaths for pedestrians, an end to illegal parking and stricter control over the movement of battery-powered rickshaws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They believe that occasional eviction drives alone will not resolve the problem. Regular monitoring, effective enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road management are necessary to ensure lasting improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents say that timely intervention by the relevant authorities could restore normal traffic movement on Madani Avenue while making the road safer and more accessible for pedestrians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Special Correspondent: The shortage of usable road space has become a daily concern in the capital, but the situation on the 100-foot Madani Avenue in the Bhatara area of Dhaka has become particularly alarming. Encroachment by street vendors, the uncontrolled movement of battery-powered rickshaws and indiscriminate parking have rendered large sections of the wide road […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n