Hatikumrul Flyover opened to ease northern Eid rush through Sirajganj

Authorities have opened the newly constructed flyover at the strategic Hatikumrul intersection in Sirajganj to ensure a hassle-free journey ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Vehicles from Dhaka bound for 22 northern and southwestern districts travel through Sirajganj via this highway.

While the route typically handles 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles daily, traffic multiplies exponentially during the Eid festival.

The Roads and Highways Department opened the flyover before schedule, eliminating the bottleneck at one of Bangladesh's busiest highway hubs.

Vehicles travelling north from Dhaka cross the Jamuna Bridge and travel 21 kilometres before reaching the Hatikumrul intersection. From there, the highway splits toward Pabna, Rajshahi, Bogura, and Rangpur.

"Opening the interchange flyover before Eid brings immense relief," said Rafiqul Islam, a Rangpur-bound bus driver.

"Even with the massive rush of holiday vehicles, we won't be stuck in the long gridlocks like in the past."

Cattle-laden truck drivers have also welcomed the move.

"The number of livestock vehicles increases heavily before Eid-ul-Azha. This new route allows freight vehicles to move faster, saving us critical time," said Shaukat Hossain, a truck driver.

The Hatikumrul interchange is being constructed at an estimated cost of around Tk 7.38 billion and is expected to be fully completed by December.

Traffic volume over the Jamuna Bridge began climbing sharply on Friday afternoon.

Authorities also activated four additional toll booths on Saturday morning, bringing the total number of operational booths to 18 to ensure swift clearance.

Authorities reported that 34,966 vehicles crossed the bridge in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning -- nearly double the usual volume. This traffic surge generated Tk 32.43 million in toll revenue.