Drivers unhappy with shoddy road repairs:Daily Sun

  Eid trips of holidaymakers are better this year compared to the past years. But drivers of buses and other commuter vehicles alleged that repairs are temporary and road conditions deteriorate even after a light rain. Earlier, communications ministry took an all-out step to ensure safe journey of homeward people ahead of Eid. As such, an initiative was taken to repair some 2,000 run-down roads an
d highways under the department concerned. Twelve deputy commissioners and police supers, including those of Gazipur, were also directed to take necessary steps to this end. The results are positive. Communications Minister Obaidul Quader is passing busy hours round the clock visiting various roads. He has inspected roads 300 times in two years and a half. As many as 24 monitoring committees are working under his directives since his takeover of the ministry in 2012. As part of his regular monitoring, the minister visited Gulistan road on Thursday—the day holidaymakers formally started their Eid trips in droves. This year, about one crore people will leave Dhaka for different destinations to celebrate the holy fest with their near and dear ones. In view of this, the government has renovated different terminals and bus stations in the city. Some 5,000 additional vehicles operating in and outside the city will be added to the fleet of transport carrying home-goers this year. Road repairing works concluded on Monday. But bus drivers alleged that passengers will face woes after Eid as just-repaired roads are temporary. Mitali Paribahan is plying Sayedabad-Sylhet route for long. Driver Mamun said, “We’re driving bus with facing many difficulties. Most of the roads in Lalbazar, Tajpur and Rashidpur areas of Sylhet highways are dilapidated.” In front of Sayedabad police outpost, supervisor Zaker Ahmed of Dhaka-Laxmipur-bound Janani Paribahan calls passengers to take seats. Bus driver Sumon said he reached Dhaka from Laxmipur on Wednesday night. “The condition of highway near Comilla cantonment is very bad.” Passenger bus Al-Arafah reached Sayedabad Bus Terminal at 1:30pm. Bus driver Kalam said road condition from Comilla highway to Paduar Bazar is not so good. A bus was seen waiting outside Sayedabad bus terminal at 2:00pm for fares. It was supposed to leave Dhaka towards Moulvibazar. Driver Babu and supervisor Sumon said the highway is getting damaged rapisdly because of heavy movement of trucks and covered vans. Sonali Paribahan runs on Dhaka-Madaripur route. Supervisor Mamun and driver Suman said they face problems on the highway as light vehicles like auto-rickshaws, locally made battery-run Nasimon and human haulers ply the road. “As such vehicles always face accidents on the highway, they should be removed from the highway,” both the transport workers opined. Firoz Alam Babu, a driver of Econo Paribahan that plies Dhaka-Laxmipur route, said the road is in a vulnerable condition, and there is no pressure of passengers for long tailback. “Most passengers are going home by train and launch.” Asked about road conditions, Rana Miah, a driver of Sanjida Seating Service of Dhaka-Tangail route, said road asphalt has got damaged in several places of Kaliakoir of Gazipur. No renovation work is in sight there. “Potholes have developed in many places like Konabari of Gazipur, Mouchak of Kaliakoir, Shafipur, Ansar Academy and Chandra intersection.” He mentioned. “Renovation is going on from Elenga of Tangail to EPZ of Savar, but asphalt is also getting washed away by rain. Some parts of the road are being washed away after a light rain.”