RAJSHAHI, Jan 12: Traffic congestion has become a regular feature on the roads in the city causing serious sufferings to the city dwellers, reports UNB.

The main causes of this vexing congestion include unauthorised parking of vehicles of the roads, excess number of rickshaws, narrow roads grabbing the space beside the road by unauthorised shops, flaw in the traffic management and lack of specified parking area in front of the markets.

The congestion is particularly heavy in main thoroughfares and crossing of the city including Shaheb Bazar crossing, Sonadighi crossing, Ranibazar, Gorhanga railgate, Laxmipur crossing, Talaimari road crossing and bus terminal area.

In many traffic points, traffic police can be seen neglecting their duties and chatting with other colleagues. Sometimes they ignore the problems of the vehicle drivers who face troubles in crossing the jammed roads and crossings.

The number of rickshaw, particularly without licence from the City Corporation, is much higher causing problem on the roads. The unskilled pullers with little knowledge about various traffic rules contribute much to the problems, said some city dwellers.

Official sources said the total number of licensed rickshaws in the city is 12,028, but more than 17,000 ply on the streets of the divisional town, said the sources.

Unauthorised shops sprang up beside the roads also contribute to the problem by grabbing space ignoring all rules and the people complained that the concerned authorities were not taking any action against the owners of such shops.

They said everyday new shops are being opened at almost every road crossing in the important commercial districts.