Road Transport and Highway Division (RTHD) yesterday gave its reaction to a news published on The Daily Star yesterday with the headline "Holidaymakers' Journey Before Eid: Rain, road repair major concern".

The division said that repair works on roads and highways was a continuous process and that highways across the country were now in a better condition compared to the past.

It said repair work was progressing on roads damaged by early rains. The division had already given directives to complete the ongoing repair works across the country by June 8.

The division mentioned the initiatives the road transport and bridges ministry had taken to make homebound people's Eid journey hassle-free.

About the steps, it said four meetings had already been held at Kaliakoir, Bhulta, Feni and Gazaria with the people concerned and necessary directives to make people's Eid journey hassle-free had also been given.

"Activities are on as per the directives. Such a report before Eid can create panic among people," the division said.

It mentioned that temporary congestion was created on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway due to the construction work of a railway overpass at Fatehpur in Feni.

The problem had been solved as quick measures were taken. Two lanes had already been opened and two other lanes would be opened before the upcoming Eid, it said.

Apart from the introduction of modern toll systems at the toll plazas near Meghna and Gumti bridges, toll collection had also been expedited. Therefore, vehicular movement returned to normalcy on the highway.

It said special plans were made for areas, including Rupshi in Narayanganj and the entrance and exit points of Dhaka city, to make commute comfortable on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.

About its future action plan, the division cited the decision of a coordination meeting and said mobile courts would carry out special drives to keep Dhaka-Mymensingh highway free of illegal parking, makeshift markets and to prevent passengers being picked up from and dropped off at undesignated zones.

Four lane roads from Chandra to Alenga on the Dhaka-Tangail highway would be kept open on the basis of necessity, it added.