Rainfall leaves Chittagong city roads battered

Continual shower since late June has left major thoroughfares in Chittagong city in a dilapidated state with numerous potholes and craters which are causing immense sufferings to commuters including Eid shoppers.

Moreover, ongoing construction of two flyovers under the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) on two major roads -- Station Road and Muradpur-Sholashahar Road -- is even worsening the situation. The construction materials and equipment piled up on the roads do not let the rainwater easily pass through resulting in waterlogging.

According to Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) sources, of the total 800km road network under the CCC, around 500km is paved road, 200km is concrete road and 100km is brick or unpaved road. A total of 150km road on which heavy vehicles operate has already developed many craters, said CCC Executive Engineer Munirul Huda.

The most battered roads are seen in Muradpur, Sholoshahar, CDA Avenue, Wasa, Lalkhan Bazar to Tigerpass, Sheikh Mujib Road and Agrabad Barik Building areas.

Nowadays, whenever it rains, vehicular movement remains halted for one to two hours whereas on other days traffic jam is experienced only during a particular part of the day, said locals.

Rashed Chowdhury, resident of Agrabad, has to suffer daily on the way to his office at Nasirabad.  "It is very difficult to locate the potholes particularly at night. I already had two minor accidents due to these potholes," he said.

The Daily Star also found piles of sand and mud occupying a major portion of another affected road Kadamtali. Locals in Bahaddarhat, Cornel Hat, Mogoltuli, Sirajuddollah Road, Batali Road, Telpotti Road, Zakir Hossain Road and Kapasgola Road areas are also going through the same ordeal.

Rickshaw puller Md Bashir Miyan of Kadamtali said, "It is very difficult to ply rickshaws on these roads. My rickshaw along with a passenger overturned few days ago as I could not notice a rainwater filled pothole on Station Road."

Nowadays, it takes about 45 minutes to reach New Market from Tigerpass instead of 10 minutes, said Yusuf Jamil Rajib, an MBA student who was going for Eid shopping at Reazuddin Bazar.

 "Journeys on these bumpy and battered roads are uncomfortable and painful especially when you are not in good health," said Nafisa Sharmin who was visiting a doctor in Mehedibagh.

Bishwajit, resident of Batali Road area, said the layer of bitumen on the road got washed away by rains many days ago.  Besides taking immediate steps to renovate the roads, the authorities should also remove materials and equipment from roads which are causing water clogging and thereby damaging the bitumen layer.

The CCC engineer said the CCC has allocated Tk 3 crore for fixing potholes on roads which fall under their purview and the work will be completed within six days. 

Contacted, CDA Chief Engineer Md Jashim Uddin Chowdhury said renovation of a portion in Kadamtali has already started and the other parts will be fixed within a few days.