The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has failed to meet several deadlines for the completion of projects involving construction and repair of roads and footpaths in Mirpur area of the capital.
Its officials are yet to issue a time frame by which the projects would be completed.
The dreadful condition of most of the streets, parts of main roads and footpaths in Mirpur causes pedestrians and commuters to suffer intolerably. There are frequent potholes on the roads and the poor condition of the drainage system results in waterlogging during the rainy season.
Indiscriminate parking of vehicles and the ever-increasing traffic have also added to the woes of people.
“The condition of most of the roads in Mirpur area is too bad to describe. Bumpy and dilapidated roads make it difficult for both vehicles and pedestrians to move. The locals have been living with the ordeal for a very long time,” said Md Sabuj, a resident of Pallabi in Mirpur 12.
“The city corporation dug the roads and footpaths three to four months ago but are yet to finish the work,” he added.
The Mirpur area has seen no renovation for a while allegedly because of negligence and a lack of sincerity on the part of the city corporation authorities.
Roads in block A, B and D under section 11 in Mirpur were found to be in need of immediate repair. Other roads found to be in similar conditions include Manikdi Road, Paris Road, Benaroshi Palli Road, and also roads in Bihari Palli in section 10 and 11.
Two repair projects in Mirpur were initiated in October and December last year, and were scheduled to be completed by June this year. However, the implementation of both are still underway.
Besides, another project undertaken to give the capital a facelift before the ICC T20 World Cup has not finished yet. More than four months have gone by since the curtain fell on the event but the beautification work in Mirpur is still going on at a snail's pace.
The road stretching from Mirpur 11 to Kalshi was regularly used by visitors staying at the Radisson and Regency Hotel to reach Mirpur stadium during the world cup. However, the project to widen and repair the road has not finished yet, with the deadline expiring in about six months ago.
Alim, who lives in Kalshi, said: “Negligence on the contractor's part and the lack of supervision by the city corporation are to be blamed for the unnecessary delay.”
The beautification work was initiated in early February, following approval from the government on January 19, and was supposed to be completed by March 8.
Under the project, 23km road was supposed to be widened, lampposts and traffic signs were to be installed on 23.5km road, and 20.5km road was to be beautified.
The Local Government Division is implementing the Tk115 crore project, with Tk92 crore from the government exchequer and the remaining amount from DNCC funds.
DNCC chief engineer Brigadier General Md Gazi Firoz Rahman could not be reached for comment on the delay in the implementation of the projects.
On June 1 this year, DNCC former chief engineer Brigadier General Md Abul Khair told the Dhaka Tribune: “We were given only four to five weeks before the world cup to implement the beautification project. We did not have enough time which is why we could not complete the whole project on time.”
Interestingly, Khair told the Dhaka Tribune in February that he was confident about the implementation of the projection by the March 8 deadline.