Commuters facing triple blow on Ctg road

Travelling on the 1.5-kilometre KB Aman Ali Road, from Chawk Bazar kitchen market to Rahattar Pool in Chittagong city, has become a nightmare to people due to potholes, open dustbins, and absence of footpaths.

The road is regularly used by almost a thousand students of around 20 private and government schools and colleges in West Bakalia area, apart from the locals.

Moreover, the Chawk Bazar kitchen market, the only kitchen market of the area, located at the entryway makes the road even busier with buyers.

Over the decades, the number of residents and commuters has increased but the 12-feet wide road, which connects Chawk Bazar to Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway, has not been expanded, alleged locals.

Pedestrians and commuters also suffer due to absence of footpaths or occupied footpaths like the one along the bank of Chaktai Khal and open dustbins. The photos were taken recently. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

While visiting the area this correspondent saw around a half-kilometre of the road from Teachers' Training College to Bhola Shah Majar Gate area was riddled with potholes.

In Puran Chartola area, pedestrians were seen walking through the garbage scattered on the tattered road, as there is no footpath to walk on.

From Chawk Bazar kitchen market to Pashchim Bakalia Government Primary School, vendors occupy a large portion of the road leaving very little space for commuters.

Locals expressed their dissatisfaction, saying sometimes the conservancy workers of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) collect garbage from the roadside drains and pile it up on the road.

During the monsoon, it makes the road slippery and dirty and heavy downpours increase commuters' sufferings, they added.

Sunil Chowdhury, a retired government official living in Rahattar Pool area, said though doctors advised him to walk, he finds it very difficult and risky due to a lack of footpaths.

Even riding a rickshaw or any other vehicle is uncomfortable due to its battered state, persisting for seven to eight months.

Pedestrians and commuters also suffer due to absence of footpaths or occupied footpaths like the one along the bank of Chaktai Khal and open dustbins. The photos were taken recently. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Parvez Alam, a banker, alleged that CCC officials turned a blind eye to the sorry state of the road which should be repaired and expanded with footpath facilities.

Tarana Sharmin, a teacher, alleged that a footpath was built on the bank of Chaktai Khal in Chawk Bazar several months back but soon afterwards vendors occupied it, leaving no space for pedestrians.

She urged the authorities to evict the vendors and open the footpath to commuters.

AKM Jafrul Islam, councillor of ward no-17, said locals complained that commuters are getting injured by falling off rickshaws due to the potholes.

He, however, claimed that upon receiving complaints, CCC filled many of the potholes and would fill the rest soon.

Admitting that the road needs to be expanded with footpath facilities, Jafrul said he would discuss the matter with the mayor.

Contacted, Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin told The Daily Star that he was unaware of the sorry state of the road.

He said he would ask CCC officials to fill in the potholes and clear the footpaths.

Regarding cleanliness, Nasir said he has already instructed the conservancy workers to clean all dustbins timely.