Those Responsible For Bottlenecks

Farmgate is one of the busiest spots in Dhaka where thousands of people, irrespective of their professions, have to cross every day. As the area is home to many educational institutions like government and private colleges, high schools, coaching centres and also commercial markets, kitchen shops, hotels and cinema halls, this area remains crowded throughout the day.

Hence, an all time busy and traffic congestion-packed road communication has been developed based on the area linking Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Manik Mia Avenue, Begum Rokeya Avenue and some alleys to Kawranbazar, Satraasta intersection, Tejgaon Industrial area, Mohakhali, Panthapath, East and West Tejturi Bazar area.

While the Avenues are open only for the motorised vehicles, people most often ride human haulers (locally called Leguna) or hire rickshaws to go around the adjacent areas. However, the costlier rickshaw fares make human haulers popular as the transport offers cheap and speedy rides.

At least four human hauler stands are now operating from Farmgate to Nilkhet, Mohammadpur, Mohakhali and Nabisco intersection. Human hauler staffs inform Dhaka Courier that, around 70 legunas run on the Nilkhet-New Market route, 48 legunas to Nabisco intersection, 50 to Mohakhali and 47 to Mohammadpur ply on the Farmgate roads every day.

But, none of the four leguna stands have authorised parking spaces thus causing traffic congestions in and around this area. While similar leguna stands in other parts of Dhaka are not busy as the ones in Farmgate, they also contribute to traffic congestion in those areas.stand is located just besides the Holy Cross College in the East Tejturi Bazar road of the Farmgate area. Along with the college, there are also the Government Science College with a high school attached to it and the Tejgaon Government High School within 60-70 metres from this spot.

Guardians, students and local businessmen allege that the leguna stand has eaten up much of the already narrow road space leading to traffic congestions during peak-hours. Though, they admit that the transport service is helpful.