Whose job is it to fix our roads?

It is disconcerting to know of the terrible condition that a three-kilometre stretch of Dhaka-Tangail highway between Norosinghopur and Shimultala is in, causing distress and disruptions to traffic and pedestrians alike. The road has reportedly been submerged in filthy water from the narrow and overflowing drains for the last three months. Given that it is a part of a major national highway, there are thousands of vehicles plying on it every day. But the constant waterlogging has also created large potholes on the road. So, not only do people need to tread through filthy water, the drivers must also be watchful of the potholes, which only add to their delay and suffering. The situation gets even worse when it rains.

Though workers from the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) periodically "fix" the road using cheap bricks, this is only a temporary and ineffective solution. On the other hand, officials from the RHD itself shift the blame onto locals and nearby factories and businesses for disposing of their waste directly into the area's drains. The department's assistant engineer has specifically blamed the 200 or so factories for the constant waterlogging, as they allegedly discharge water directly into a narrow drain. In addition, some influential people have grabbed the nearby Nayanjuli canal, which has reduced the canal's width from 24 feet to only three or four feet. This prevents drain water from flowing into the river through the canal as it used to before, prolonging the waterlogging.  

If this is the condition of one of our major highways, one need not guess at the horrific state of the "less important" roads, especially during monsoon. We urge the authorities concerned, especially the RHD, to be more active in solving issues such as this, and to not let roads remain practically unusable for so long. Commuters already have to spend hours stuck in traffic every day. If the roads which they use are left in such dilapidated state, it is simply rubbing salt into their wounds. The blame shifting among different government agencies only makes it worse.