Dhaka: Unlike on Friday, vehicular movement on major highways were reported normal on Saturday afternoon as law enforcing agencies were working round the clock to ease traffic gridlocks for making the holidaymakers' journeys safe and comfortable.

According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, the traffic situation on Dhaka-Chittagong highway returned to normalcy in the afternoon after the authorities concerned put a ban on the plying of Dhaka-bound goods-laden heavy vehicles from Chittagong port, said Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, Comilla.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque said the traffic situation is normal on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

The vehicular movement was slow on the highway over the last three days but today's traffic is very normal, the IGP said while talking to reporters after a visit to Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Gazaria upazila, Munshiganj.

In Manikganj, no traffic gridlock was seen on Daulatdia-Paturia route as BIWTA authorities added two more ferries to the existing 16 to carry the excessive number of vehicles smoothly.

The local administration has deployed a good number of policemen to avoid any untoward incident, said Superintendent of Police (SP) of the district Mahfuzur Rahman after visiting Paturia Ferry Ghat.

In Gazipur, the traffic movement became normal both on Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways in the afternoon although vehicles were seen moving slowly in the morning on the two major highways.

The district administration has deployed around 2,000 law enforcers on the two highways to keep the vehicular movement normal, said Gazipur SP Harun-or-Rashid.

"The police personnel have been discharging their duties with utmost sincerity for ensuring a smooth journey of the home-bound people," Harun added.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader claimed that traffic jams on highways is less this time than that of the last 10 years.

"Vehicles are moving slowly on highways but it's tolerable," said the minister while talking to reporters after a visit to Gabtoli Bus Terminal here on Saturday morning.

The minister also said the long tailbacks towards the northern districts are also less than previous years, and urged transport owners not to take excess fare from passengers.

Referring to road accident in Rangpur, the minister also urged the drivers not to drive recklessly on the roads and be more careful while driving.