Expansion work of 2 roads in Rangpur town stops midway
Work for expansion of this important road from Modern More to Medical College intersection in Rangpur town has remained suspended for over two weeks, much to the grievance of the townspeople. Photo: STAR
Work for expansion of two major roads in Rangpur town has remained suspended for over two weeks, much to the worry of the locals. Roads and Highways Department (RHD) took a Tk 77 crore project to expand the main road from CO-Bazaar to Modern point and the by-pass from Modern point to CO-Bazar point to ease traffic movement in the town. As per the plan, width of the two roads will be expanded from existing 33 feet to 65 feet and they will be made four-lane ones. Accordingly, the department started digging the roads about six months ago but the work has remained suspended for the last 20 days. RHD Executive Engineer Atiqur Rahman denied suspension of the road extension work, saying, "Actually Power Development Board, T&T and Rangpur municipality authorities demanded about Tk 5 crore to remove electric polls, water pipeline and T&T cables on the roads. But only Tk 77 lakh was sanctioned for the purpose. We have informed the higher authority to take initiative to solve the problem.” However, seeking anonymity, RHD sources said the problem has arisen as a number of shop owners on both sides of the main road in the town applied to the authorities for keeping width of the road within 56 feet to save most of the business establishments from demolition and it has put the RHD in a dilemma. Admitting receiving the application, the RHD executive engineer said, “The work has not been suspended due to the application of the shop owners. The department will talk to cross section people in Rangpur for opinion about the shop owners' demand." The official assured them of trying to arrange early compensation to the affected ones according to the law of the government. But the shop owners remained stick to their demand and warned of greater movement for it. Rangpur Deputy Commissioner BM Enamul Hoque said expansion of the main road and the by-pass in Rangpur town is a topmost priority of the government. He, however, could not tell clearly why the road expansion work has remained suspended. Leaders of several social organisations gave memorandum to the deputy commissioner in protest against the 'conspiracy' to stop road expansion work in Rangpur town. In a memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner and the divisional commissioner on October 4, Samaj Paribartan O Unnayan Forum, a voluntary social organisation, requested the authorities not to stop work for expansion of the two roads.
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