Baldha Garden Road nightmare for drivers

The stretch of the road near Baldha Garden in Wari is not longer than 50 yards, but drivers are reluctant to use this small stretch due to its terrible condition.

The situation was made worse when authorities concerned, instead of carrying out repair works, covered up most of the potholes on the portion of the road with pieces of bricks. Moreover, the part of the road creates traffic congestion as vehicles are forced to move slowly on it.

Visiting the area this week, The Daily Star found one of the wheels of a truck stuck in one of the potholes not covered by bricks.  

Nur Mohammad, helper of the truck, said the axle of the truck broke, leaving the vehicle stranded on the road. This inevitably caused traffic congestion.

Mohammad Mostafa, driver of a Dhaka-Narsingdi bus, said they regularly spend more than 30 minutes crossing this small part of the road due to its numerous potholes.

The condition of the road deteriorated rapidly in the last one month, he added.

Sudip Kumar, sub-assistant engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation, zone-5, said they have already submitted a proposal of Tk 23 crore project to the LGRD ministry about 10 days back to repair the road that stretches from Sayedabad to Joykali Mandir.

He said they would begin repair works after getting the go-ahead from the ministry.

Meanwhile, the city corporation spent Tk 72 crore to repair the dilapidated road under the Mayor Hanif flyover amid public outcry and sufferings during rainy season last year.          

It also spent Tk 7 crore more for development of a drainage system to put an end to waterlogging on the road.

Although the entire sum had been paid to the contractors, the road remains in the same dreadful state.

Many potholes along with mud and waterlogging at different points have made the road a hazardous one following days of rain.