Commuting has become a nuisance for locals in the capital’s Uttara, as the dilapidated roads in the area have not seen any repair work in the last 10-12 years because of alleged negligence from the authorities concerned.
During a recent visit to the area, it was observed that potholes covered the roads of sector 6 (Road No 3, 6, 8), sector 7 (Road No 1, 9/A, 9/B, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24), sector 8 (Road No 1, 3, 5), sector 9 (Road No 1/A, 1/B), sector 11 (Road No 14), and sector 12 (Road No 1, 4), causing risks for pedestrians and commuters.
According to the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the Uttara Model Town project was initiated in 1966 and completed in 1992, with 6,000 plots on 380 hectares of land being allotted in the first phase.
The development work of the second phase started in 1992 and was completed in 1998 and the authority acquired 175 hectares of land and allotted 5,315 plots.
However, no development work like repair of roads, footpaths and foot over-bridges were taken by the authorities concerned in the last 10-12 years.
The local residents alleged the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) of lacking sincerity in this regard.
Most footpaths in different sectors of Uttara stay occupied by illegal makeshift shops, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the main road. Jaywalking, added with potholes on the middle of the streets, create risk for both the vehicles and pedestrians using the roads.
Patients, pregnant women, and elderly people suffer the most while using the roads.
Anika Tahsin Jahan, a sixth grade student of Rajuk Uttara Model School & College of Azampur said, “The condition of the road in front of my school is very bad. I have to go through a bumpy ride every morning while going to school with my mother by rickshaw. Besides, the condition of the road deteriorates after cattle haat is set up during Eid-ul-Azha in front of the school which damages the road.”
Shahina Akhter, a resident of Uttara’s Sector 9, said: “I came here to reside in the year 2000, but have not seen any renovation of road since.”
A businessman from Uttara’s Jasimuddin area said: “Rickshaw-pullers in the Uttara sector 4 area sometimes charge Tk45-60 for a journey to the Uttara Sector 9 although the standard fare is between Tk25-30.
“Most of the footpaths are broken or occupied and the foot over-bridges are covered with dish wires, creating problems in free movement,” he added.
In this regard, Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of the DNCC, admitted that he was aware of the matter, saying: “We have planned to repair the roads of only Uttara area for Tk25 crore from our own fund. The work will begin after election.”
He added: “A big project of Tk120 crore for the development work of the 14 sectors of Uttara was sent to the planning ministry. It will be approved in the next Ecnec [Executive Committee of National Economic Council] meeting.”
A two-phase repair project by the DNCC – with the first phase scheduled to begin in October and the second in December last year – was also yet to begin.
Brig Gen Khair blamed the ongoing political crisis for the delay in starting the project, saying: “We cannot bring bricks from Sylhet because of the political crisis, which is delaying the work.”
