Construction work goes on at snail’s pace
After a long wait, Patuakhali's Kuakata municipality will get a bus terminal of its own. But its construction is progressing extremely slowly, causing immense sufferings to tourists from home and abroad as well as locals.
Locals alleged that although works started in 2021 and were supposed to be done by June this year, only 60 percent of the land development work and 40 percent of the building's construction work have been completed.
The authorities concerned hope to finish construction and open the terminal by July next year.
Kuakata municipality was formed in 2010, but as there is no permanent bus terminal, drivers park tourist buses beside busy roads in the municipality.
As a result, tourists from both home and abroad and bus passengers on various routes have been suffering immensely.
According to sources at the municipality office, construction of Kuakata Bus Terminal -- on six acres land along Kuakata-Patuakhali highway, about two kilometres north of the sea beach -- is going on with a budget of Tk 7 crore.
Kuakata municipality was formed in 2010, but as there is no permanent bus terminal, drivers park tourist buses beside busy roads in the municipality. As a result, tourists from both home and abroad and bus passengers on various routes have been suffering immensely.
Deputy Assistant Engineer at Kuakata Municipality Abul Hossain reiterated the aforementioned progress and said about 200 buses will get parking facilities once the terminal is built.
Asked, he said works have been delayed due to complexity in land acquisition and shortage of labourers during the pandemic.
Rumman Imtiaz Tushar, president of Tour Operators' Association of Kuakata, said tourists are suffering a lot for not having a permanent bus terminal. Besides, buses parked alongside the municipality roads often disrupt traffic movement.
Motaleb Sharif, general secretary of Kuakata Hotel Motel Owners' Association, said people, especially tourists, will be benefitted once the terminal is built.
Kuakata Municipality Mayor Anwar Hossain Howladar said the initiative to build a bus terminal in Kuakata was taken long ago, but the works has been delayed due to complications in land acquisition.
Shamimul Haque, a tourist from Dhaka, said passengers have been facing serious difficulties as there is no bus terminal in Kuakata. Tourists will be relieved if authorities address this issue.
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