Dilapidated condition of various roads in the city’s Mirpur and Uttara areas is proving to be a constant irritant for passengers and pedestrians, who complained of daily commuting hazards including adverse health effects and high fares.
The authorities, they said, have failed to properly respond to the urgency of road repairs.
Dhaka North City Corporation – which takes care of the affairs of the two areas – planned a two-phase repair project several months ago with the first scheduled to begin in October and the second in December, but none of them has come to pass yet.
Many have blamed “lack of sincerity” of the corporation officials for the failure to initiate the project.
Nisha, a schoolgirl living in Uttara, said the road from her residence to school offered a bumpy ride because of the “countless potholes” on it. “It has become a difficult journey for me.”
Tasmia Islam, another resident of the area, said the ongoing renovation in the Sonargaon Janapath road required swift implementation as it was a busy road.
Patients, pregnant women and elderly people are the worst victims of the roads long lying in disrepair, said Anis Ahmed, 66, a resident of Mirpur.
“There are several roads in Mirpur which need urgent repairs. For old people like me and others, a journey by rickshaw these days is like a journey into pain.”
“I doubt if the DNCC officials really want to find a quick remedy for problems facing the city dwellers.”
Several roads, lanes and by-lanes in Beribadh and Mazar areas of Mirpur and different sectors of Uttara have become unfit for use over the years and are in need of renovation.
The situation, however, created an occasion for the operators of CNG-run automobiles and rickshaws to raise fares at will – sometimes double the amount usually charged.
“Rickshaw pullers in the Beribadh (dyke) area sometimes charge Tk60-65 for a journey to the Mazar Road area although the standard fare is between Tk30-40,” said Tarikul Islam. “This is because of the dilapidated condition of the roads on the way.”
While contacted, Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of the DNCC, confirmed the news of delay in initiation of the project but said it would start soon.
About the Sonargaon Janapath road, he said the repair work had started but stopped after a short while as construction workers were unwilling to work during the blockade.
“I know people are suffering because of the hazardous condition of the roads but we had trouble accumulating construction materials and other things necessary. There were other problems as well.”
“But the project would indeed end by this year,” he said, without explaining, however, how he planned to do that in such a short period of time.
