Is there no escape from road excavation for the residents of Dhaka?

When the monsoon comes, road excavation starts in the city of Dhaka. This time, the rain arrived earlier than usual. Regular rainfall has been occurring since the beginning of March. In various areas around Dhaka like Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Dakshinkhan, Motijheel, and Wari, road excavation has already begun. Due to the road digging, the environment for vehicle movement on the roads diminishes. As a result, intense traffic congestion is observed on one side, while roads become muddy on the other. Because of the potholes, pedestrians often find themselves walking on muddy paths, leading to a return home covered in mud.

It's the month of Ramadan. Many people wish to return home from their workplaces before Iftar. However, due to road excavation, they find no escape from the created congestion and suffering. Eid is approaching. Even the footpaths have been taken over by hawkers. In this situation, imagining public enjoyment seems far-fetched! Despite this, Dhaka residents continue their journey, considering it as destiny.

According to information from the two city corporations of Dhaka, permissions for road excavation were granted in over a hundred locations in Dhaka in February. At least 13 government agencies have obtained permits for road excavation. Many of these projects are still ongoing. Additionally, both city corporations are working on road development projects in various areas. However, Dhaka North City Corporation has stated that, in order to reduce public inconvenience, they requested the Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police not to grant new permissions for road excavation during Ramadan. Therefore, no new permissions have been issued in March.

Road maintenance, drainage system improvement, and cleanliness efforts are indeed necessary in the city to address road chaos. However, the question remains: for how long? How long will these projects last? Due to the lack of coordination and proper management between road excavation and subsequent maintenance activities, Dhaka witnesses, public inconvenience almost every year. To address this issue, the 'Dhaka Metropolitan Road Excavation Policy-2019' has been formulated to coordinate among the relevant organizations involved in road excavation within the jurisdiction of the city corporations. Apart from the two city corporations, input and recommendations from entities like Dhaka WASA, Titas Gas, DPDC, DESCO, and BTCL were also considered before finalizing it.

According to the guidelines, an entire road cannot be excavated at once. No road segment will be excavated consecutively month after month. The work should be divided into several parts over a period of 15 days. Regular water spraying should be done to prevent dust pollution. The excavation area should be surrounded by yellow or red tape. It is not allowed to keep materials on the road hindering traffic movement.

According to information published in the media, yesterday (April 2), it was observed that various roads in Mohammadpur, Lalmatia, Mirpur, and Dakshinkhan areas are being excavated by various government agencies. Some roads have been left dug up for more than a month. Pedestrians are facing difficulties while walking. Dust pollution is evident due to the unreclaimed soil on all sides. Construction materials are scattered in some places.

So, we want to say, let the residents of Dhaka be freed from this suffering. Let arrangements be made so that Eid becomes joyful. Let people travel smoothly and without worry. When there is chaos on the roads, it disrupts peace at home as well. The extent of these hardships affects people's mental well-being and creates distress. It is hoped that the concerned authorities swiftly take action upon experiencing these challenges.