Port city road renovation delay makes residents suffer

Sufferings of dwellers have doubled in the last three months due to a delay in completing a project to develop Chittagong city's KB Aman Ali Road.

A two-month project "Development of KB Aman Ali Road" undertaken by Chittagong City Corporation was supposed to be completed in January this year. But it is still going on, said local ward councilor AKM Jafrul Islam.

Under the project, which CCC started to get rid of waterlogging during the upcoming monsoon, the road's portion stretching around 2,000 feet from Chawk Bazar Dhunir Pool to Aturar Dokan is being elevated up to 2 feet and the widths of drains on its both sides are being expanded to 20 inches from 10 inches, said Md Kamal Uddin, a superviser of CCC.

As a result, earth, sand and brick chips have been piled up on the both sides of the road, connecting Chawk Bazar with Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway.

Vehicles have to use the narrowed down road as there is no alternative way to pass through.

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 residents.

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

Prosanto Paul, a resident in the area, said while travelling in any vehicle, he had to remain stranded for a long time as the road became too narrow to accommodate two vehicles next to each other.

"Even I cannot pass through the road on foot due to earth piled up on both of its sides," he said.

Students have to suffer a lot on a daily basis. Oishi Majumder, a secondary level student of West Bakalia Model Girls' High School, told The Daily Star that she often missed the first class because of being late on the way. "Although I leave home hours before my school starts, I'm often late," she said.

Jafrul Islam, councillor of ward no-17 of CCC, said the residents complained to him about the delay in completing the road development. "I told them to have patience for some days."

CCC officials said two contractors are working in the project in phases. Of them, one has already completed his portion from Dhunir Pool to Phultala area in due time, but the other failed to do so.

Anwar Hossain, superintendent engineer of CCC, told The Daily Star that he had already issued a letter to the contractor in this regard. "He (the contractor) had replied that the work would be completed by March 10."

He, however, said around 30 percent of the works was still remaining.

CCC superviser Md Kamal Uddin said they hoped the work would be completed soon.

Earlier, The Daily Star covered a story on public sufferings due to numerous potholes, open dustbins and absence of footpaths on the 1.5km road, but the authorities did not take steps in that regard.

On completion of the on-going project, the crisis of potholes will almost be resolved as the portion, which is being elevated, is in the worst condition, said locals.