From one end of the capital to the other, the same picture emerges everywhere. Roads have been dug up and left unattended for months in some areas, while piles of soil, sand and construction materials occupy half the streets elsewhere in the name of development work. Even light rainfall is causing waterlogging on damaged roads in several neighbourhoods, while dust has engulfed entire residential areas. Excavation work has narrowed roads, worsening traffic congestion and slowing movement across the city.
Traffic congestion is severe, but so too is the overcrowding of people. After enduring such hardship day after day, frustration among city dwellers is steadily mounting.A recent visit to different parts of Dhanmondi, Uttara, Baridhara, Notun Bazar, Mohammadpur, Bosila and Adabor revealed that in most areas, roads remain unrepaired long after excavation work began. In some places, drainage projects are underway; elsewhere, electricity or fibre-optic cables are being installed, while several roads are tied to metro rail development work.
However, the slow pace of work has pushed public suffering to extreme levels.
In various sectors of Uttara, road excavation has added to existing problems such as footpath encroachment and illegal parking. In the Baridhara–Notun Bazar area, major roads have become nearly unusable due to ongoing development projects. In Mohammadpur, Kaderabad, Katasur and Bosila, dug-up roads have remained in poor condition for months.
In many areas, deteriorated roads have made movement especially difficult for elderly people and children.
Residents said the repeated digging is largely the result of poor coordination among utility agencies. Before one agency completes its work, another begins digging the same road again. This not only increases public suffering but also wastes public funds.
Locals alleged that although city corporations are officially responsible for civic services in many upscale residential areas, in reality much of that responsibility is now being carried out by local residential societies.
Despite paying holding taxes regularly, residents say they are not receiving adequate civic services. In many neighbourhoods, local societies are being forced to take the initiative to maintain security, cleanliness and other civic facilities.
Even in Dhanmondi, one of the capital’s most prestigious residential areas, civic suffering is now clearly visible. Residents expressed frustration over prolonged road excavation, unfinished development work, footpath encroachment and security concerns.
On-site visits showed that roads remain unrepaired after excavation in many places, while the slow pace of work has created severe inconvenience for commuters.
Residents alleged that many civic services officially under the responsibility of the city corporation are effectively being managed by the Dhanmondi Society. The organisation has reportedly stepped in to address issues related to security, cleanliness, footpath management and lake maintenance.
Dhanmondi resident Dr Nabid Ahmed told local media that prolonged excavation and delayed development projects had significantly increased public suffering.
“Despite repeated meetings and correspondence with the city corporation, the expected progress has not been achieved. As a result, the Dhanmondi Society is trying to address some gaps in security, cleanliness and civic services on its own initiative,” he said.
According to local residents, one agency often begins excavation before another completes its work, causing repeated disruption in the same area. In many cases, roads remain unrepaired for long periods, worsening dust and mud problems.
Residents said it was disappointing that even in a planned residential area like Dhanmondi, civic services had deteriorated to such an extent. Frustration among residents is growing as they continue paying taxes without receiving expected services.
Broken roads, encroachment and gridlock across Uttara
A visit to Uttara last Thursday found that roads in several areas had been dug up by the city corporation for utility line installations, causing severe traffic congestion.
Roads in Sectors 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 13 were found to be badly damaged. Even minor rainfall disrupts water flow and creates waterlogging.
Md Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan, a resident of Sector 3 and general secretary of a local welfare association, said repeated letters to the city corporation requesting road repairs had produced no results.
“Severe traffic congestion occurs on various roads after evening hours. Footpath shops, roadside parking and excavation work are all contributing to the gridlock,” he said.
Sector 13 resident Md Rafiqul Islam said he had been paying taxes regularly since 2018 but was receiving almost no civic services.“Almost every road is broken and full of potholes. Most drains do not even have covers, which blocks water flow and causes waterlogging,” he said.
A visit to different roads in Sector 17 from Jasimuddin by battery-powered rickshaw revealed that the main road had been dug up nearly a month ago.
Rickshaw puller Hasan Ali said underground cable work had been completed but the road had still not been resurfaced.
“The road used to be good, but now there is traffic congestion every day,” he said.
Large piles of construction materials and sand were seen occupying nearly half of Road No. 1 in Jasimuddin. Similar conditions were observed across roads in Sectors 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 17.
Sector 17 resident Moinul Haque alleged that no under-construction building in the area had proper safety barriers.
“There appears to be no monitoring by the authorities,” he said.
Another resident, Hafizur Rahman, said roads become submerged even after light rain due to the absence of proper drainage.
Furkan Mondal, another local resident, said the area lacked adequate street lighting.
“Once night falls, the entire sector is plunged into darkness. This has turned the area into a haven for drug users and criminals,” he said.
Development work paralysing Baridhara–Notun Bazar roads
A visit to the road from Nadda to Notun Bazar found that large sections of Baridhara’s bypass road beyond the Coca-Cola point had become nearly unusable because of development work.
Excavation and utility relocation work is ongoing on 100 Feet Madani Avenue, roads adjacent to Notun Bazar, areas in front of Bhatara Police Station and near the DPDC office. As a result, commuters are suffering daily from traffic congestion, dust and mud.
Business owners along the roads also reported major losses.
A restaurant owner in Baridhara’s J Block said sales had dropped sharply.
“Previously we used to get good business in the evenings. Now even staying open 24 hours is not helping. If vehicles cannot stop in front of the restaurant, how will customers come?” he asked.
Sohel Ahmed, showroom manager of Gulshan Furniture, said businesses in the area were suffering badly.
“Despite paying Tk 250,000 in rent, we are barely getting customers. Since the roads were dug up, every shop in the area has faced the same problem,” he said.
Project officials said complications had arisen because work on MRT Line-1 and Line-5 was being carried out simultaneously in the same area.
Md Sarwar Uddin Khan, acting project director of MRT-1, said delays were occurring because drainage pipes and 132kV power lines had not yet been relocated.
Dust, mud and unfinished roads in Mohammadpur and Bosila
Several roads inside the Kaderabad Housing area near Mohammadpur Bus Stand were under development for months.
Md Shahadat Hossain, a potato and onion seller near Road No. 4, said the city corporation had dug up the road four to five months ago but the work was still unfinished.“Elderly people are facing particular difficulty moving around,” he said.
Local resident Md Iqbal said that despite paying taxes for more than five years, even 10 per cent of the area’s roads had not been resurfaced.
“During the dry season, dust fills the air, while in the rainy season water accumulates in potholes,” he said.
Residents of Chand Udyan Housing also complained that most branch roads remained unpaved, with piles of soil and sand left unattended for long periods.
Advocate Zubayer Alam, a resident of Katasur, said roads in the area were frequently dug up but repairs took a very long time.
“The biggest problem is the lack of coordination,” he said.
Locals also alleged that work on the main road from Rahim Bepari Ghat to Bottola remained incomplete even after three months.
Grocer Aslam Parvez said the poor road condition was hurting both mobility and businesses.
Meanwhile, most roads in Bosila West Dhanmondi Housing were also found to be badly damaged.
Resident Mamun Hossain said piles of soil and sand had remained on roads for years.
“The main roads are extremely dusty and the entire area remains covered in dust,” he said.
A similar picture was found in the Monsurabad Housing area of Adabor, where residents are suffering due to large potholes and broken roads.
City corporation responds
Chief Engineer of Dhaka North City Corporation Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan said roads must regularly be excavated for water, gas, electricity and fibre-optic lines whenever new buildings are constructed.
“The major problems arise when organisations such as WASA, Titas, DESCO or DPDC implement large projects,” he said.
He acknowledged that in many cases the city corporation had failed to repair roads promptly after excavation.
“Officials have been instructed to complete all road-cutting repairs quickly,” he added.
He said many areas, including Bosila and Badda–Merul Badda, still have brick-built roads, but limited revenue prevents simultaneous development everywhere.
Regarding excavation approvals, he said authorities are now issuing permissions based on performance.
“If an organisation completes one project properly, only then will it receive approval for the next one. Through a one-stop service system, we are trying to complete the work more quickly,” he added.
Source: Kaler Kantho
