Salma Akter, along with her one- and three-year-old children, traveled about three and a half kilometers from Baipail to the Women and Children's Hospital in Narsinghpur.
The trip took her nearly two hours, and fearing the same for the return journey, she opted for a rickshaw instead of a bus, despite the concern over bumps due to potholes.
It’s not just Salma Akter; countless commuters on the Baipail-Abdullahpur Road in Ashulia, Dhaka, experience similar fears.
Since the start of construction on the elevated expressway, potholes have emerged throughout the road.
Construction materials are scattered, and almost no lanes are usable.
Local residents demand urgent action from authorities to relieve them from this hardship, while transport drivers complain of vehicle damage due to potholes and traffic jams, urging faster progress in road construction.
Authorities promise that relief will come soon as efforts to address the issues are underway.
The Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project began in November 2022, with about 35% of the work completed.
Construction has progressed up to the DEPZ area in Ashulia, with pillar installation reaching Narsinghpur and pipeline construction ongoing.
However, the road condition has deteriorated amid construction activities.
A firsthand inspection of areas from Unique, Jamgora, Shimultala, Narsinghpur, Tongabari, Ashulia, to Beribadh reveals intense construction work along the road.
Large concrete pillars have been constructed in the center, with ongoing reinforcement work, casting, and rebar installations.
Construction materials occupy a significant portion of the road, making it almost unrecognizable.
Walking nearly impossible
Potholes, mud, sand, and waterlogged sections render the road unusable for pedestrians.
In the Shimultala area, water has accumulated in one spot for about 50 yards, making passage difficult even for rickshaws.
Resident Raihanul Islam recounts the difficulty of crossing the road due to stagnant water, worsened since construction began.
“Water remains stagnant here throughout the year. Rainwater doesn’t dry up. This place used to be in good condition, but after the construction work began with all the digging, it turned into this state. Now, we’re forced to endure the hardship just to get through,” he said
Garment worker Nazrul Islam from Narsinghpur complained that road edges are dug for construction, causing mud to flow onto the road, further complicating travel. “We cannot even walk on the road.”
Women, children at risk
The Ashulia Women and Children's Hospital in the Narsinghpur area sees thousands of people coming and going every day.
In front of the hospital lies the Baipail-Abdullahpur Road, where a few auto-rickshaws are usually parked at the entrance.
However, there is a stretch of about 10 yards in front of the entrance where muddy water has accumulated.
Rina Begum, a pregnant woman who came from the Unique area, said: "There are potholes and water everywhere along the road. The bumps made me feel unwell, and I have to return the same way. I’m scared."
She mentioned having to get out and walk at three different spots and urged for the road to be made more accessible quickly.
Vehicle damage, traffic congestion
Potholes and the narrowed road cause severe vehicle damage, increased repair costs, and longer travel times, frustrating transport operators.
Bus driver Babul Mollah said: "I used to be able to make five trips a day, but now I can barely manage three. Parts of the vehicle keep getting damaged, requiring repairs. The root cause of everything is the road; it’s barely drivable anywhere, and the lanes have become narrower. I’m extremely frustrated. Fixing the road would at least give us some relief."
Rickshaw driver Zahid Hossain shared a similar ordeal, stating that even crossing a kilometer can take up to an hour. “My earnings have dropped, and I’m struggling. If they don’t fix the road soon, we’ll end up starving."
Labourers were seen working at two points to repair the road, but they refrained from commenting.
Several traffic controllers were assigned by the construction company. One such man is Rajib Hasan. He said: "Due to the construction work on the road, it has become somewhat narrower. We're working to prevent traffic jams. Like me, there are many others working at various points along the road."
However, locals find these measures ineffective.
What authorities say
Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway Project Director Shahabuddin Khan said 35% of the main work is completed, with various works underway at multiple points along the 24-kilometer stretch. Foundation and pillar work is done in some places, while pipeline and slab installation progresses in others.
He acknowledged the poor road condition but assured that repair work is ongoing.
Shahabuddin said that some issues stem from factory water drainage during the rainy season, which will be resolved with ongoing drainage work.
By the next rainy season, he promised that the road would be in good shape, reducing congestion and ensuring smooth travel.
