Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
With the stalk of the monsoon, Dhaka City Corporations (DCCs), WASA and other utility service providers have geared up the road-digging process in the capital city, creating untold sufferings to the commuters.
Visiting different areas on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was seen that digging up of roads, lanes and by-lanes began recently. City residents are annoyed with beginning of the excavation work ahead of the advent of the monsoon. Many said, it is a perpetual process with monsoon nearing.
Like past, the government this year also undertook several projects ahead of the monsoon, some say, for ’embezzling money’. Sources said, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have prepared about 300 roads for renovation works.
The DSCC and the DNCC this year allocated Tk. 431 crore for road repairs, while the amount was Tk. 350 crore last year. Besides, Tk. 250 crore was also allocated for the Development Project Proposed (DPP) under the DSCC. The government also allocated a special fund of Tk. 150 crore for different roads in the DSCC area. Many said that the huge budget was allocated for the road repair works especially during the rainy season for ’embezzling the government fund’.
The two city corporations have already started the renovation work of many roads, and will start in many other places in the coming days. The WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority) and some other utility service providers are also carrying out the excavation work on different roads, lanes and by-lanes in the city. For this, the condition of many roads in many areas, including Gulshan, Banani, Kalyanpur, Lalmatia, Gulishtan, Rampura, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Khilgoan, Bashabo, Banasree, Gulistan and Old Dhaka, has led to severe road blocks due to the projects.
The digging affects the vehicular movement in the city, while people are also facing immense sufferings.
The pedestrians faced sufferings a lot during the recent showers, as the roads and the lanes have become unfit for the movement in many areas. “The government has taken the projects of road digging ahead of the monsoon, but who will see our sufferings?” said Anisur Rahman Talukder, a resident of Kalyanpur area.
Dr Shahdeen Malik, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, said, “We, the city dwellers, are irritated for digging up the roads by WASA and other authorities. It seems that we have to seek Prime Minister’s direct intervention to get ourselves freed from the sufferings in the name of development.”
The roads in Kalyanpur area are in a dilapidated condition, as the WASA has dug up every lane and by-lane to set up new water pipeline. Anisur Rahman Talukder said that the commuters have suffered a lot during showers, as rainwater makes the roads unfit for the movement.
“The road is stopped. Development work is going on. We are sorry for temporary inconvenience,” the words are inscribed on a signboard seen in Gulshan-1 intersection. DNCC dug up a part of Gulshan-1 intersection for repair work a month ago, but the part has not been renovated till now. Like Gulshan-1, the commuters face sufferings in Gulshan-2, Banani and adjacent areas, as numerous streets are dug open for renovations. Vehicles cannot ply the areas because of the numerous holes dug out for repair work.
“Road is stopped. Use the alternative road”, such signboards were seen at Banani and some other parts. A pedestrian of Banani 18 No Road said, the WASA had dug up the road to set up water pipelines. Although the WASA finished its work, the road is still unfit for the movement. Contractor Nasir Uddin said, “A heap of soil was created due to the excavation work. So, the commuters face sufferings. We will clear the heap as soon as possible.”
The road in Gulistan’s Fulbaria area was dug up recently for renovation and setting up drainage. The whole road has turned into a heap of cobblestone. For this reason, the area can’t come out from huge traffic congestion. The road in front of Tara Mosque at Becharam Deuri in Old Dhaka is now stopped for vehicular movement due to the excavation work. The pedestrians are also facing untold sufferings, as the most part of the road was filled up by earth. The WASA dug up the roads to set up storm sewerage lines. “The road was dug before a month but the work of setting up the storm sewerage line has not been till now,” said a pedestrian of the area.
The road excavation work continues from Malibagh to Rampura Bazar. Nilufar Yeasmin Koly, a teacher of Motijheel Ideal School & College who resides in Rampura area, said, “I live in this area and face untold sufferings. I may have to face more sufferings in the coming days, as the excavation works in many roads have just begun. Why they choose the rainy season for renovation work or the development projects?”
The Road No 8 at Goran has been stopped for setting up pipelines for more than a month. The residents of Goran and South Banasree areas can’t also use rickshaws, as the alternative roads are not good for the use. “It is nothing but punishment for us. The roads in our area are dug up almost every year in the name of development. Why the authorities choose the rainy season for the projects. It is nothing but embezzling government fund. The ruling party men contract firms to garner booths,” said Nazmul Haque, a resident of Goran area.
According to officials of the DSCC and the DNCC, the contracting firms and other agencies are given 28 days time for completing the renovation work, but they can’t complete in the timeframe. Some other rules and guidelines have also to be maintained during work on city roads. The contracting firms and the utility service providers, however, ignore all these guidelines, posing danger to the road users of the city.
Chief Engineer of the DSCC Md Nurullah said, they have taken the projects of renovations work for development. As per rules, the contracting firms will have to complete a project within 28 days, he said.
Experts and urban planners blamed the absence of proper coordination for the unplanned road digging by different utility providers in the city. The authorities can start digging any time and finish the work whenever they want. “There is no coordination between the city corporations and different other utility service providers of the government. So, the city roads are dug up without anytime anywhere,” said Maruf Rahman, an urban expert.
With the stalk of the monsoon, Dhaka City Corporations (DCCs), WASA and other utility service providers have geared up the road-digging process in the capital city, creating untold sufferings to the commuters.
Visiting different areas on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was seen that digging up of roads, lanes and by-lanes began recently. City residents are annoyed with beginning of the excavation work ahead of the advent of the monsoon. Many said, it is a perpetual process with monsoon nearing.
Like past, the government this year also undertook several projects ahead of the monsoon, some say, for ’embezzling money’. Sources said, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have prepared about 300 roads for renovation works.
The DSCC and the DNCC this year allocated Tk. 431 crore for road repairs, while the amount was Tk. 350 crore last year. Besides, Tk. 250 crore was also allocated for the Development Project Proposed (DPP) under the DSCC. The government also allocated a special fund of Tk. 150 crore for different roads in the DSCC area. Many said that the huge budget was allocated for the road repair works especially during the rainy season for ’embezzling the government fund’.
The two city corporations have already started the renovation work of many roads, and will start in many other places in the coming days. The WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority) and some other utility service providers are also carrying out the excavation work on different roads, lanes and by-lanes in the city. For this, the condition of many roads in many areas, including Gulshan, Banani, Kalyanpur, Lalmatia, Gulishtan, Rampura, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Khilgoan, Bashabo, Banasree, Gulistan and Old Dhaka, has led to severe road blocks due to the projects.
The digging affects the vehicular movement in the city, while people are also facing immense sufferings.
The pedestrians faced sufferings a lot during the recent showers, as the roads and the lanes have become unfit for the movement in many areas. “The government has taken the projects of road digging ahead of the monsoon, but who will see our sufferings?” said Anisur Rahman Talukder, a resident of Kalyanpur area.
Dr Shahdeen Malik, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, said, “We, the city dwellers, are irritated for digging up the roads by WASA and other authorities. It seems that we have to seek Prime Minister’s direct intervention to get ourselves freed from the sufferings in the name of development.”
The roads in Kalyanpur area are in a dilapidated condition, as the WASA has dug up every lane and by-lane to set up new water pipeline. Anisur Rahman Talukder said that the commuters have suffered a lot during showers, as rainwater makes the roads unfit for the movement.
“The road is stopped. Development work is going on. We are sorry for temporary inconvenience,” the words are inscribed on a signboard seen in Gulshan-1 intersection. DNCC dug up a part of Gulshan-1 intersection for repair work a month ago, but the part has not been renovated till now. Like Gulshan-1, the commuters face sufferings in Gulshan-2, Banani and adjacent areas, as numerous streets are dug open for renovations. Vehicles cannot ply the areas because of the numerous holes dug out for repair work.
“Road is stopped. Use the alternative road”, such signboards were seen at Banani and some other parts. A pedestrian of Banani 18 No Road said, the WASA had dug up the road to set up water pipelines. Although the WASA finished its work, the road is still unfit for the movement. Contractor Nasir Uddin said, “A heap of soil was created due to the excavation work. So, the commuters face sufferings. We will clear the heap as soon as possible.”
The road in Gulistan’s Fulbaria area was dug up recently for renovation and setting up drainage. The whole road has turned into a heap of cobblestone. For this reason, the area can’t come out from huge traffic congestion. The road in front of Tara Mosque at Becharam Deuri in Old Dhaka is now stopped for vehicular movement due to the excavation work. The pedestrians are also facing untold sufferings, as the most part of the road was filled up by earth. The WASA dug up the roads to set up storm sewerage lines. “The road was dug before a month but the work of setting up the storm sewerage line has not been till now,” said a pedestrian of the area.
The road excavation work continues from Malibagh to Rampura Bazar. Nilufar Yeasmin Koly, a teacher of Motijheel Ideal School & College who resides in Rampura area, said, “I live in this area and face untold sufferings. I may have to face more sufferings in the coming days, as the excavation works in many roads have just begun. Why they choose the rainy season for renovation work or the development projects?”
The Road No 8 at Goran has been stopped for setting up pipelines for more than a month. The residents of Goran and South Banasree areas can’t also use rickshaws, as the alternative roads are not good for the use. “It is nothing but punishment for us. The roads in our area are dug up almost every year in the name of development. Why the authorities choose the rainy season for the projects. It is nothing but embezzling government fund. The ruling party men contract firms to garner booths,” said Nazmul Haque, a resident of Goran area.
According to officials of the DSCC and the DNCC, the contracting firms and other agencies are given 28 days time for completing the renovation work, but they can’t complete in the timeframe. Some other rules and guidelines have also to be maintained during work on city roads. The contracting firms and the utility service providers, however, ignore all these guidelines, posing danger to the road users of the city.
Chief Engineer of the DSCC Md Nurullah said, they have taken the projects of renovations work for development. As per rules, the contracting firms will have to complete a project within 28 days, he said.
Experts and urban planners blamed the absence of proper coordination for the unplanned road digging by different utility providers in the city. The authorities can start digging any time and finish the work whenever they want. “There is no coordination between the city corporations and different other utility service providers of the government. So, the city roads are dug up without anytime anywhere,” said Maruf Rahman, an urban expert.
