Heavy rain damages roads in Barisal

Except five thoroughfares at the city centre, all roads in Barisal are filled with pot-holes. Drivers of rickshaws and battery- operated three-wheelers, the main modes of transport for the city dwellers, are increasing their fares every week and often refusing to ply their vehicles on these dilapidated roads.
Visiting different areas of the city, it was found that only about 20km out of the total 593km of roads in the Barisal City Corporation area are in good shape. The thoroghfares are Battala-Choumatha Road, Hospital Road-BM College Road, Bandh Road and Alekanda-C and B Road at the city centre and surrounding areas. Sadar Road, the main thoroughfare of the city, Port Road, Sadar Ghat, Kawnia, Weather Office Road and other roads are in poor state.
In 10 extended wards of the BCC, there are mostly mud roads that are not usable by any vehicle during the rainy season. Pot-holes have been created due to the heavy downpour in the last one week. The met office recorded over 321mm of rainfall. In 24 hours on May 20 alone, it was 242mm.
A former BCC mayor forcibly acquired private land without paying any compensation to the owners and illegally expanded roads and constructed pavements, now mostly under the possession of street hawkers, said Prof. Syed Moazzem Hossain, a rights activist.
The present mayor has failed to reclaim the pavements. Rashid Mia, a service holder of the Kawnia area, said when retuning home he has to walk a long distance. Reaching home, he has to take a bath and wash his dress because it is covered with muck, he added.
Shahidullah of Kashipur and Homaera Begum, a college student of Rupatali, said they live in the most neglected extended areas of the city, and virtually become imprisoned in their homes during the monsoon. Karim Mia, a rickshaw-puller, and Kajal, a battery-operated three-wheeler driver, said they often refuse to ply on the roads even if extra money is offered as their vehicles become damaged due to the condition of the roads.
Abdu Motaleb, superintendent engineer of the Barisal City Corporation, said about 30 per cent of the roads were badly damaged following the week-long rain. The BCC requires a minimum of Tk. 40 crore for emergency repairs. A total of Tk. 330 crore was spent in the last seven years for constructing, re-constructing, extending and repairing 312km of roads.
BCC mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal said repairing the damaged roads would be possible if the government sanctioned Tk. 40 crore. "We are, however, trying to ease the situation using whatever funds we have. But more money is needed. With the rain still continuing, things could go from bad to worse," he added.

 

Heavy rain damages roads in Barisal

Except five thoroughfares at the city centre, all roads in Barisal are filled with pot-holes. Drivers of rickshaws and battery- operated three-wheelers, the main modes of transport for the city dwellers, are increasing their fares every week and often refusing to ply their vehicles on these dilapidated roads. Visiting different areas of the city, it was found that only about 20km out of the total 593km of roads in the Barisal City Corporation area are in good shape. The thoroghfares are Battala-Choumatha Road, Hospital Road-BM College Road, Bandh Road and Alekanda-C and B Road at the city centre and surrounding areas. Sadar Road, the main thoroughfare of the city, Port Road, Sadar Ghat, Kawnia, Weather Office Road and other roads are in poor state. In 10 extended wards of the BCC, there are mostly mud roads that are not usable by any vehicle during the rainy season. Pot-holes have been created due to the heavy downpour in the last one week. The met office recorded over 321mm of rainfall. In 24 hours on May 20 alone, it was 242mm. A former BCC mayor forcibly acquired private land without paying any compensation to the owners and illegally expanded roads and constructed pavements, now mostly under the possession of street hawkers, said Prof. Syed Moazzem Hossain, a rights activist. The present mayor has failed to reclaim the pavements. Rashid Mia, a service holder of the Kawnia area, said when retuning home he has to walk a long distance. Reaching home, he has to take a bath and wash his dress because it is covered with muck, he added. Shahidullah of Kashipur and Homaera Begum, a college student of Rupatali, said they live in the most neglected extended areas of the city, and virtually become imprisoned in their homes during the monsoon. Karim Mia, a rickshaw-puller, and Kajal, a battery-operated three-wheeler driver, said they often refuse to ply on the roads even if extra money is offered as their vehicles become damaged due to the condition of the roads. Abdu Motaleb, superintendent engineer of the Barisal City Corporation, said about 30 per cent of the roads were badly damaged following the week-long rain. The BCC requires a minimum of Tk. 40 crore for emergency repairs. A total of Tk. 330 crore was spent in the last seven years for constructing, re-constructing, extending and repairing 312km of roads. BCC mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal said repairing the damaged roads would be possible if the government sanctioned Tk. 40 crore. We are, however, trying to ease the situation using whatever funds we have. But more money is needed. With the rain still continuing, things could go from bad to worse, he added.