Unfinished work of the Dhaka-Chattogram four-lane project is partly responsible for the nagging traffic congestion on the country's prime highway, sources said.
Though the project was officially announced closed in June 2017, they said, the construction of Feni overpass along with three unfinished infrastructures under the four-lane project is yet to be completed.
This infrastructure is now creating traffic congestion on the four-lane highway, they added.
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) handed over the construction work of the project's two unfinished overpasses and one bridge to the Bangladesh Army in December 2016.
The four-lane project ended in June 2017 with completion of highway-widening work of a 192-kilometre surface.
Sources said the army was given extra time till December 2017 after the project's main contractor failed to get the work done in time.
But sources said though the army completed the Cumilla overpass and Eliotganj flyover in time, construction of the Fatehpur overpass in Feni was delayed.
It was far behind the schedule due to a high volume of work, they said.
But army sources said the current traffic congestion is not related to the construction work of the overpass. They argued that the construction work was not reason behind traffic jam as the work is being carried out for nearly 18 months.
Due to inclement weather, they said, traffic management is not ensured in proper way, making the situation unmanageable.
However, they could not confirm how long it would take to complete the Fatehpur overpass.
RHD sources said a long tailback on both sides of the overpass was created as traffic is being managed through two lanes, stopping one side of Dhaka-Chattogram highway alternatively.
Besides, vehicles which have been bypassing the area through Feni bypass could not run smoothly due to dilapidated road.
Road condition also went abruptly bad for carrying out the reconstruction work during rains.
A RHD official, however, said traffic situation on the corridor is likely to improve once one lane of the approach road of the overpass opens to traffic by May 15.
Dhaka-Chattogram highway is the country's main economic corridor for having link between the Chattogram port and capital Dhaka. Though the highway gets the highest number of traffic on the corridor, pressure on it increases ahead of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, local bus associations have called a strike demanding immediate solution to traffic gridlock.
The four-lane project undertaken in 2004-2005 has been facing several challenges. From cancellation of the tender twice, four-time revision of the development project proposal, the project cost increased to Tk 38 billion from Tk 16 billion.
Construction of the bridge and overpass under bridge package-2 of the Dhaka-Chattogram four-lane project involved Tk 1.13 billion.
