3 key roads in dire need of renovation

The heart of Narayanganj city is in Chashara where three important roads lead to east, west and south.

Dhaka-Narayanganj Old Road, Chashara-Shimrail Road and Bangabandhu Road are linked with the capital, Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and Dhaka-Munshiganj Road. Fatullah, Siddhirganj and Sadar police stations are also connected by these three roads.

Despite holding such importance in regional connectivity, the roads are in a dilapidated state and in dire need of renovation.

The authorities sometimes carry out repairs by putting bricks and sand in the potholes, which hardly makes a difference, said locals.

Visiting the area recently, this correspondent saw asphalt surface got washed away, forming  small and large potholes.

"In daylight, we can manage but after dusk you can't be sure where the potholes actually are. Last week, my associate and I got injured as the vehicle overturned. This happens often on Dhaka-Narayanganj Old Road," said Mohammad Ali, a pick-up van driver. Similar observations were made in the two other roads.

"In last 45 days, I had to change 3 pairs of bearings of my battery-run auto-rickshaw, only for running on the damaged road," said Md Shahin, who carries passengers on Chashara-Shimrail Road.

"Authorities must repair this road as soon as possible," urged Nazma Begum, 55, a resident of Fatullah area.

According to officials, the 8km Chashara-Shimrail Road and 12km Dhaka-Narayanganj Old Road are under the supervision of Roads and Highway Department's Narayanganj and Dhaka divisions, while the 2km Bangabandhu Road is under Narayanganj City Corporation.

"A tender has been called for repairing 3km stretch of Chashara-Shimrail Road. The work will likely begin at the end of October," said Shahana Ferdous, executive engineer of RHD, Narayanganj

Another portion of the road is under NCC's supervision and they will take initiative, she added.

"We are aware that some roads need repairs. We took an initiative to renovate the roads after the end of the pandemic but could not due to fund crisis. We have taken on a project and will call for tenders soon," said Asgor Hossain, executive engineer of NCC.

"Renovation of Dhaka-Narayanganj Old Road will begin soon while a project to upgrade it from two-lane to six is awaiting the planning ministry's clearance," said Ahad Ullah, executive engineer of RHD, Dhaka.