All about a 'city of bumpy roads, potholes'

The roads become narrow due to digging by T & T while incessant rain worsens the condition of the roads. The pictures were taken at Nandan Kanon (top) and Rahmatganj. PHOTO: STAR

Apart from hindering movement of vehicles as well as pedestrians, the worn out roads are also posing a serious health hazard to the city dwellers, particularly those complaining of orthopaedic problems.

But, the authorities concerned at Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) remain indifferent to the menace.

Moreover, digging of roads by Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB) and CCC delays repair of roads to prolong the sufferings of the city dwellers.

Nawab Siraz Ud Doula Road (Andarkilla to Kapasgola), KB Abdus Sattar Road (Momin Road to Gani Bakery), Momin Road, Bohoddarhat Intersection, Dewanhat Over-bridge, roads stretching from Dewanhat to Halishahar Block, Kazir Dewri to Jamal Khan Road, Paltan Road, GEC Intersection, Chittagong Medical College Hospital Road, Sholoshahar Gate No 2 Intersection, Kazir Dewri to Gole Pahar Morr (Mahedibag) are lying in a most wretched state at present.

The potholes, which are developing increasingly, are one of the main reasons for the gridlocks in the city thoroughfares since they obstruct smooth movement of vehicles seriously, said Mohammed Ibrahim, driver of a city bus service.

Digging of roads in front of the busy markets and shopping malls forced the vehicles to park on the road narrowing the its's width, said Idris Mia, driver of a three wheeler.

Besides, heavy jerking on the worn out roads often causes damage to the vehicles and making the vehicles go out of order in the middle of the roads, alleged the transport workers.

It also raises maintenance cost of the vehicles and forces the owners suffer financial loss, they said.

Jerking of vehicles on the pothole, stud roads also remain as a matter of great concern for the passengers as well as the physicians.

While commuting through such roads passengers very often receive severe injuries in the waist and shoulder, which might lead to paralysis, said the physicians.

Dr Jahangir said, "We advised the patients not to go through dilapidated roads to avoid injuries."

The dilapidated roads are causing road mishaps frequently raising the risk of major accidents as well, said Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Mohammed Munir Hossain of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

CCC in its budget allocated TK 56.94 crore for developing 150.96 kilometres of new roads without mentioning budget for repairing or renovating the worn out and dilapidated ones.

CCC recently procured a sophisticated automatic asphalt plant at a cost of Tk 5 crore and spent another Tk 2.5 crore to procure two paving machines, a chain loader, a excavator, two road maintenance trucks, two road rollers and a sophisticated cold-milling machine for better road maintenance and developing works, sources said.

But, the city dwellers are yet to see any output of the procured machineries.

On the other hand, despite receiving around Tk 25 crore as compensation from BTTB, CCC could not start repairing the damaged roads where the digging was completed several months ago.

CCC delayed the repair work to engage its own workforce instead of contractors and reduce cost, sources said.

CCC Chief Engineer Mokhtar Alam, however, refused to talk to this correspondent in this regard.