DNCC inaugurates U-turns only to increase gridlock

The newly introduced U-turn facility has narrowed down the roads in those and other areas, making it harder for vehicles to turn to other lanes.

Though Dhaka North City Corporation on Saturday inaugurated 10 U-turns at different points of the road from Tejgaon Satarasta Junction to Uttara House Building to ease commuters' sufferings, soon after the inauguration, it caused more gridlocks in certain areas of the road.

While visiting the U-turn points, it was seen that it caused traffic congestion on both sides of the road in Nabisco area, Mohakhali bus terminal and in front of Setu Bhaban in Banani. 

The newly introduced U-turn facility has narrowed down the roads in those and other areas, making it harder for vehicles to turn to other lanes. 

For example, although the road leading to Moghbazar has three lanes, the road on the opposite side has been narrowed down to one lane due to a U-turn. 

A senior police official seeking anonymity told The Business Standard, "The U-turn slabs have more space in between them, which has taken up more spaces from the road. If the U-turn sections were narrower, the roads would have been wider." 

DNCC authorities have opened U-turns in front of Uttara Rajlaxmi Bhaban, in front of Uttara RAB-1 office, in front of Kawla Flying Club, near Banani overpass, in front of Banani Army Stadium, in Banani Chairmanbari, in Mohakhali Amtali, in front of Mohakhali bus terminal, on Tejgaon Nabisco junction and near BG Press area at Sat Rasta.

They prohibited using intersections of Navy Headquarters Branch Road, Banani Road No 27, Banani Kakli, Banani Road No 11, Mohakhali Amtali Junction, Tejgaon Kahinur Junction and Love Road junction in the interest of uninterrupted and smooth traffic.