Capital�s roads in awful state

Substandard works blamed

The capital’s streets hardly sustain the guaranteed life span of 10-12 years due to substandard repair works as well as water-logging, forcing the authorities to spend huge taxpayers' money for repeated maintenance works every year, reports UNB. "City corporations are supposed to monitor the repair works, a responsibility which is hardly performed by them for various reasons...this is how it has become a culture for the contractors to do their job caring little about the required quality," a top city corporation official told UNB wishing anonymity. However, a number of contractors, also requesting anonymity, told the news agency that it is very difficult to use quality materials for various reasons, including lower rates for contracts, political extortion as well as paying 'speed money' at 11 steps for having their files moving. They have to spend up to 20 percent on 'speed money' and sometimes drop tenders at a price as less as 20 percent compared to the scheduled rate to obtain the work order, they alleged. How one can expect quality materials in constructing roads? they questioned. When the city corporations finalise the cost of construction or repair works, they do not adjust the value with the existing market price, said a first class contractor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).  "We've to pay speed money at 11 steps, including at points of work assistant, sub-assistant engineer, assistant engineer, exen (Executive Engineer), zonal engineer, executive officer, superintendent engineer, additional chief engineers, chief executive officer and account section, the contractor," the contractor said.
He went on saying, "Though we usually use good materials as well as construct 'surface drain' on both sides or 'pipeline' during construction of any road, those don't last long due to water logging." Sought comments on water logging, executive engineer Abul Kashem of Dhaka South City Corporation (DNCC) said water gets logged on the streets during heavy rain for weak drainage system. "We usually construct narrow drains but main drains are constructed by Wasa.""Unless we can improve our drainage system, the roads will have little longevity," he said, adding normally the durability of roads should be 10-12 years but these days repaired roads get damaged within five years.
About the construction of concrete roads, he said though the durability of concrete roads is longer compared to the existing bituminous roads, it is very difficult to construct concrete roads in the city for lack of proper 'curing' (making clean water to stay over the concrete surface for three weeks).
Kashem also alleged that the contractors prefer using low grade bitumen they collect from private importers, though the quality of the bitumen imported by the government is good. "I's one of reasons behind the damages of the roads," he added.
He, however, admitted that the city corporations do not have any facility to check the quality of bitumen ingredients. Contacted, DSCC additional chief engineer Md Nurul Amin also admitted that water logging is the main enemy for bituminous roads. But he denied the allegation of making lower rate schedules. "We always maintain the existing market price of construction materials when we fix the price schedule," he said. About the lower rates offered by the contractors in their quotation, he said it should not be above 5 percent of the estimated cost, but the contractors sometimes prefer to offer up to 20 percent lower price 'mysteriously'. Regarding the monitoring of quality of construction materials, Nurul Amin said though they have manpower, the monitoring has not been done regularly for various reasons. However, he did not elaborate his point. DSCC chief engineer Hasibur Rahman said water cannot recede properly through the surface drains or pipeline along the city roads as those are not constructed properly due to lack of survey reports about the numerous slopes on the city roads. Besides, in many cases, drains become stagnant due to earth filling by real estate companies. He noted that the waste management department of the city corporation is responsible for cleaning the drains, but the department fails to carry out the responsibility for lack of manpower.
When his attention was drawn to the distribution of 'speed money' at 11 steps of the corporation for approval a file, DSCC chief executive officer Khan Mohammad Bilal denied the allegation saying that he was not aware about it. "It's specified how many days an officer can keep the file on his table," the CEO added. DNCC maintains around 1,340 km of roads, while DSCC 781 km.

 

Capital�s roads in awful state

Substandard works blamed

The capitals streets hardly sustain the guaranteed life span of 10-12 years due to substandard repair works as well as water-logging, forcing the authorities to spend huge taxpayers money for repeated maintenance works every year, reports UNB. City corporations are supposed to monitor the repair works, a responsibility which is hardly performed by them for various reasons...this is how it has become a culture for the contractors to do their job caring little about the required quality, a top city corporation official told UNB wishing anonymity. However, a number of contractors, also requesting anonymity, told the news agency that it is very difficult to use quality materials for various reasons, including lower rates for contracts, political extortion as well as paying speed money at 11 steps for having their files moving. They have to spend up to 20 percent on speed money and sometimes drop tenders at a price as less as 20 percent compared to the scheduled rate to obtain the work order, they alleged. How one can expect quality materials in constructing roads? they questioned. When the city corporations finalise the cost of construction or repair works, they do not adjust the value with the existing market price, said a first class contractor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Weve to pay speed money at 11 steps, including at points of work assistant, sub-assistant engineer, assistant engineer, exen (Executive Engineer), zonal engineer, executive officer, superintendent engineer, additional chief engineers, chief executive officer and account section, the contractor, the contractor said. He went on saying, Though we usually use good materials as well as construct surface drain on both sides or pipeline during construction of any road, those dont last long due to water logging. Sought comments on water logging, executive engineer Abul Kashem of Dhaka South City Corporation (DNCC) said water gets logged on the streets during heavy rain for weak drainage system. We usually construct narrow drains but main drains are constructed by Wasa.Unless we can improve our drainage system, the roads will have little longevity, he said, adding normally the durability of roads should be 10-12 years but these days repaired roads get damaged within five years. About the construction of concrete roads, he said though the durability of concrete roads is longer compared to the existing bituminous roads, it is very difficult to construct concrete roads in the city for lack of proper curing (making clean water to stay over the concrete surface for three weeks). Kashem also alleged that the contractors prefer using low grade bitumen they collect from private importers, though the quality of the bitumen imported by the government is good. Is one of reasons behind the damages of the roads, he added. He, however, admitted that the city corporations do not have any facility to check the quality of bitumen ingredients. Contacted, DSCC additional chief engineer Md Nurul Amin also admitted that water logging is the main enemy for bituminous roads. But he denied the allegation of making lower rate schedules. We always maintain the existing market price of construction materials when we fix the price schedule, he said. About the lower rates offered by the contractors in their quotation, he said it should not be above 5 percent of the estimated cost, but the contractors sometimes prefer to offer up to 20 percent lower price mysteriously. Regarding the monitoring of quality of construction materials, Nurul Amin said though they have manpower, the monitoring has not been done regularly for various reasons. However, he did not elaborate his point. DSCC chief engineer Hasibur Rahman said water cannot recede properly through the surface drains or pipeline along the city roads as those are not constructed properly due to lack of survey reports about the numerous slopes on the city roads. Besides, in many cases, drains become stagnant due to earth filling by real estate companies. He noted that the waste management department of the city corporation is responsible for cleaning the drains, but the department fails to carry out the responsibility for lack of manpower. When his attention was drawn to the distribution of speed money at 11 steps of the corporation for approval a file, DSCC chief executive officer Khan Mohammad Bilal denied the allegation saying that he was not aware about it. Its specified how many days an officer can keep the file on his table, the CEO added. DNCC maintains around 1,340 km of roads, while DSCC 781 km.