Construction of the recently opened Mayor Hanif Flyover has caused chaos in the Phulbaria and Bangabazar areas of the city. Heavy equipment has damaged adjoining roads and commuters are being delayed by pothole filled roads that were narrowed during building of the flyover.
The Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Engineer says that repairs to surrounding roads will be made but have been delayed by rainy weather. However, waterlogged and damaged paved roads are not limited to areas affected by new construction projects as poorly maintained roads are a recurring blight in many areas of the city.
In 2012, the Roads and Highways Department estimated the annual loss caused by traffic congestion in Dhaka as exceeding Tk200bn. Slow traffic caused by bumpy, pot-holed, and damaged roads is a significant part of this problem.
There is no excuse for municipalities and the government failing to maintain the city’s roads properly. Everyone depends on roads for free movement and it is no exaggeration to say they are the arteries that keep Dhaka’s economy moving, so we cannot afford not to take all necessary steps to keep them clear.
This requires proper maintenance of the city’s existing roads and better foresight when building improvements. Regular road maintenance is a basic public need and service which citizens have a right to expect whatever government is in power.
Road maintenance budgets should be publicly scrutinised so the city’s residents can ensure funds are properly spent and are adequate to meet future needs.
