The residents of Dhaka are enduring endless hardships as roads across the capital remain dug up for development projects while existing dilapidated roads go unrepaired, exacerbating their suffering, especially during the monsoon.
Development efforts are crucial, encompassing congestion relief, drainage improvements, and other necessary services. However, the lack of coordination among city service agencies, including the City Corporation, has only intensified public woes.
Citizens squarely blame city authorities for mismanagement and neglect, while public representatives deflect responsibility onto contractors.
In areas like Gendaria near the railway station, roads submerged in rainwater compound daily woes. Pothole-ridden streets cause rickshaws to overturn, create traffic snarls with sudden halts, and pose risks to students, women, and children navigating sinkholes.
The Dayaganj road in Jatrabari stands as a grim example. Despite being a major thoroughfare, it remains in disrepair for years, swathed in dust in summers and inundated with small puddles or gutters in the monsoon, aggravating commuter misery.
Amidst existing neglect, road digging recommendations during the rainy season further exacerbate residents' suffering, leading many to dub it a suicidal decision.
While city authorities blame contractors for lapses, local Member of Parliament Awlad Hossain emphasises the City Corporation's responsibility for the timely completion of all development projects to alleviate public suffering.
Ward Councillor Kazi Habibur Rahman defends their choice of contractors but acknowledges shared responsibility for the negative public perception.
Urban planners advocate for integrated management and accountability among agencies to prevent crises and ensure tax funds are effectively utilised instead of squandered.
Currently, Dhaka bears the burden of at least 300 kilometres of neglected and damaged roads, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated efforts to end the city's chronic road woes.
