A city free from gridlock, waterlogging
People's expectation from the would-be city father
People here want a mayor with a vision and skill to make Chittagong a planned city free from traffic congestion and waterlogging as well as to ensure utility services and turn it into a commercial capital in true sense.
The city dwellers resented encroachment and development of structures in violation of the master plan that hamper planned urbanisation and force open spaces to shrink fast.
They also expect a city mayor who would give priority to public service instead of going for activities like real estate development and setting up of commercial establishments on every available land denying public access to those places.
Besides, ill competition of erecting gigantic hoardings was causing serious vision pollution alongside destroying scenic beauty that once brought Chittagong the honour of being regarded as “Queen of the East”, they said.
Besides, there were abandoned century boxes and ticket counters on footpaths and dustbins with garbage littering all around occupying a huge portion of city streets making both public and vehicular movement difficult, said the city dwellers, who expect that the would-be Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor to address such menaces.
While talking to The Daily Star Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), Chittagong President Engineer Ali Ashraf said, “A city mayor must have a clear idea and knowledge on the city, its present condition and needs of the city people.”
“We want the city mayor to help develop the city following master plan -- if not possible at a time, in phases,” he said.
“Instead of going for adhoc basis solution, development should be carried out through short, mid and long projects. The new mayor should continue the process of development of the city,” he said.
Identifying waterlogging and transportation as the major problems of the city, Ashraf said the city mayor should solve waterlogging through developing the drainage system and ensure smooth traffic movement through introducing less costly rapid transit system with separate lanes for buses instead of going for costly flyover or elevated express way system.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Senior Vice-President MA Salam expected the mayor to develop Chittagong as a business-friendly one.
“Being a commercial city it must have atmosphere congenial for business activities that would contribute to job creation and economic growth,” he said.
“We expect the city mayor to extend all-out cooperation for increasing efficiency of Chittagong port and help continue port activities unhampered,” he said.
Salam thinks that the road network developed so far in Chittagong was sufficient to facilitate smooth vehicular movement if only the transportation system could be managed properly.
He expected CCC and its mayor to take up responsibility of developing transportation system and traffic management.
Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Acting First Vice-President AM Chowdhury Salim echoing the same said a mayor should help develop a business-friendly environment in Chittagong.
Salim expected the would-be mayor to develop infrastructure and ensure utility services for industrial growth in the port city.
Sakhawat Hosain, a businessman in the Sugandha area, said he expects the mayor to present a city with free walkways and safe roads where no garbage would be left littering all around and no billboard would block view.
Dr Monwar-Ul-Haque Shamim said the city mayor should give more attention to the public service activities instead of going for commercial activities and establishing educational institutions.
Md Nasir Uddin, a shop keeper of Lalkhan Bazar, expects the city mayor to be more serious about conservancy works and ensure smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrian.
Dr Biplob Bhattacharjee of Siraj-Ud-Dowla Road said, “I would expect the city mayor to keep the footpaths and roads free from garbage and construction materials.”
“We don't want to see any conservancy work in the daytime and expect the mayor to develop a system so that not a drop of garbage is left in the road -- for this I am also ready to pay a bit more holding tax if needed,” said Dr Biplob who resented erection of billboards.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments