Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Many city roads, lane and by-lane have damaged due to the recent rain.
In some places, the condition of the damaged roads has turned worse as deep potholes developed there. To caution the road users of the pothole, people place warning sign with a red cloth.
Besides, several roads dug up by civic bodies before monsoon for carrying out development works were neither re-laid nor filled up properly after completion of work, making the situation from bad to worse.
“Rain made the city roads vulnerable. Large potholes developed on many road stretches making those dangerous for motorists and pedestrians. Besides, road digging unplanned and in-coordinated, by civic bodies have intensified our woes further,” Fahim Ahmed, who rides motorcycle, told The New Nation yesterday.
He added, “People who ride motorcycles are the worst affected. Bad roads are responsible for more strain on the spinal cord with long-term health risks. It also affects the vehicle.”
“Lack of expertise, improper planning, as well as rampant corruption is mainly responsible for the city’s present road condition,” he said.
A large number of roads, including Rokeya Sarani, Mirpur-12 to Kalshi Road, Elephant Road, Kuril Biswa Road, Mirpur road, Mirpur-1 road, Malibagh to Rampura road, RK Mission Road and Jartabari to Saidabad Road were in bad shape.
The number of damaged road may increase further as the city was hit by heavy rain again on Tuesday.
“Damaged roads and digging have thrown us into hell as we have to endure huge sufferings while commuting on them. The rainwater would not have stagnated if the authorities concerned ensured a proper drainage system,” Monirul Alam, a resident of Kuril told The New Nation.
“The authorities should repair damaged road immediately to ease sufferings of the commuters. They should inspect and supervise when the roadwork is going on,” he added.
Monirul Alam also said that proper care should be taken while digging up roads so that it cannot intensify sufferings of the city dwellers. Officials and workers should be made accountable for such faulty work.
Sources in the two Dhaka City Corporations said taking up the work to repair rain-related damages on city roads will not be a big task as they will be able to execute the work with its funds.
“The patchwork will not cost much. The civic body will take up the work immediately,” an Engineer at the Dhaka South City Corporation told The New Nation.
