Tikatuli residents suffering due to digging of roads
Photo: Barta 24
The development activities of various organizations including Dhaka WASA, DESCO, DPDC and City authorities are digging roads in different areas of the city. However, the residents of the city are suffering greatly in this digging for development activities.
It is very natural that the roads will be dug up for the maintenance and development of all connections be it underground water connection, gas connection, electrical connection or drainage system for the benefit of the city dwellers. But people's question is, why does it take so much time to repair even if it doesn't take time to cut a clean new road, and why does the same road have to be cut several times a year? Despite the suffering of the public, why is there no coordination between these organizations over the years?
The Tikatuli area of the capital Dhaka has several buildings and temples including the popular shopping mall Rajdhani Supermarket, Chowdhury Shopping Mall and Central Women's University. As a result, the entire area is crowded with people of all classes, from the upper class to the lower class. The road between Chowdhury Shopping Mall, Rajdhani Super Market and Central Women's University is thronged by thousands of people, including rickshaws, vans and private vehicles every day. Because of this, there are a lot of buyers in the markets. But due to the dilapidated condition of this road in Tikatuli due to the digging of development activities of DPDC and WASA for the last one month, the traders and the public said that there is no end to the suffering.
On Wednesday (May 22), it was seen that the road in front of Chowdhury Shopping Mall and Rajdhani Supermarket was a ruined road. At the beginning of the entrance towards Rajdhani Market from Tikatuli Junction, one will see a huge pothole covering most of the road. Talking to the workers working there, it is known that WASA work is going on here. The workers said that the work is going on here for three-four days.
The drivers are pulling the rickshaw with the full strength of their body, leaving the pedals with great difficulty on the broken road by the side of this huge pothole. It does not end here. A little further ahead, another long huge hole can be seen. DPDC is working there. Huge underground electrical cables are laid above and around the pit. A good portion of the road is covered with pitted soil, sand and gravel. The road is closed. This is the same situation all over the road. Pedestrians have to walk on the road with great difficulty.
Since the poor condition of this road in the digging of development, the businessman Shukkur Alam told Barta24.com that this digging has started since the Ramadan Eid.
He said, 'Our business is over in this digging for so long. The customer cannot come to the store from where the business will be. The road is cut in such a way that it is difficult for people to walk, let alone cars. Given the situation, I think this work will not be completed before Eid- ul- Azha. Let the government develop, there is a need for development but let the work be completed on time. To whom will we tell about our suffering?
Another businessman, who did not want to be named, said, "Who can I tell about our sufferings?" I can't say it, I can't stand it. There is no sale in the store. Daily sales has around Tk. 200, 250, 300. What do you do with this money, pay the salary of the shop staff or go on your own? This condition of the road has been over a month today. There is nothing to cut and tear. Cars and horses cannot move, and there is no end to the suffering of people. To whom will we sell if there are no people? We request the government to repair the road as soon as possible.
The businessman traveled along this road every day. Monirul Islam seeing the reporter gathering information, came and spoke to himself.
Monirul Islam said, due to the closure of this road, I have to travel far for the past one month to go to my workplace. This road is cut at least 3/4 times every year. Once it is done, one company after another comes and cuts. The road was cut two months ago. Now it's gone again. We common people have nothing to say. This suffering of our public is due to the negligence of various organizations. The authorities connected with this work should give proper attention to this.
Pedestrians also said that when it rains in the ditches of these service organizations including Dhaka WASA, DESCO, DPDC and city authorities, the city dwellers have to face more mud and water. People including students come and go on this road under the burden of suffering. They demand that the road should be repaired after completing the work of these service agencies as soon as possible to avoid public suffering.
When asked about the digging of this road in Tikatuli for more than a month, Deputy Managing Director of Dhaka WASA (O&M) Prof. AKM Sahid Uddin told Barta24.com, "I can't tell the condition of the field." Maybe it's been a few days.
Asking the address of the road to the reporter of Barta24.com, the deputy managing director said, "Tell me where the problem is, you give me the address and I will tell the responsible people." They will rectify and fix. Or if you tell me, I will give you the details and can take action in that regard.'
Earlier, DNCC chief executive officer Mir Khairul Alam told the media about road digging, these projects are taken up in advance; there is a rush to complete these projects before June. It is late to do things step by step. However, efforts are being made to finish the work in the areas where the public suffering is more. For the development of the city, the city dwellers have to suffer a little temporarily.
