Different parts of the 12 km road from Tongi Bridge to Chandana Chowrasta are damaged due to many potholes under the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Besides the highway are covered with full of dust which is harmful not only to the mass people but also to the environment.
The collection of sand can be found on both sides of the corner of the road. Dust spreads out all over the air when one vehicle passes by, the entire area becomes smoky. The pedestrians and locals are walking around wearing masks for safety.
We understand after communicating with the locals that the undergoing development projects have been a cause for creating this situation for a long time. Due to this, many holes have been dug in various places in the city. There are soil and sand lying here and there around the Capital.
But the authorities are not taking any proper action to reduce the dust around us. A very few times, the authorities have taken initiative to sprinkling water but it is much less than what actually needed. And this is why the common people are yet suffering.
In recent times it can be seen that there are small and picket brick mound, sand and other construction materials lying on the side of the road. As we know that there are various types of transport such as passenger buses, trucks, covered vans, rickshaws and other vehicles that are moving on this road which seems to be in danger. Dust is spreading throughout the area as vehicles are moving.
It is hard to sustain when vehicles move more two at a time. The worst-case scenario is found from the Tongi Bazar area to Tongi Station Road. Around 600-700 meters is much dusty. As sand and dust flying in the air and it becomes almost impossible to stay even inside a building, market or shops surrounding these areas.
Some incidents of what the common people are suffering are addressed below as an example :
In a recent incident a person named Mehdi Hasan from Bharan, Tongi was waiting for a bus wearing a mask on the face at Anarkali Road area. He expressed his sad view that no clothes can be worn more than a day due to the extensive dust on the road. It needs to be wash every day to keep it clean
Another incident to point out is that:
A man named Alamgir Hossain works as a security guard in an ATM booth at a private bank on the east side of the road. Talking about dust, he said, ‘No more brother, I have to do duty in the middle of the 24-hour dust. Sometimes it is difficult to breathe. This sores the throat and burns the chest. Many times I have to stay inside the booth to survive in the dust. ‘
To protect themselves from dust, many shopkeepers have set different types of curtains in front of their shops., Motorcycle driver also wears dust resistant jackets to avoid dust. Zaman Hossain, a motorcycle driver in front of the National University said that he can not drive his vehicle without a jacket and Mask. The cloth becomes white in the dust.
The same terrible situation is seen in Chiragalli, Millgate, College gate, Signboard, Board Market, Kunia, Bypass and Chandana Chowrasta area.
As approached towards on-duty traffic police he said, “the road is fairly good when the road is wet, our duty can be done in peace. But the authority does not give water regularly. That’s why we face so much misery on the road. “
Though we know that the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) project is under development on that part of the highway. Earlier, the road was under the supervision of the Gazipur road section. But now BRT is responsible to maintain the road and other matters. When asked about the project the director of BRT Mr.Chandan Kumar Basak, said,
“There is regular water supply in the morning and afternoon. But often the water gets blocked due to water supply hence we cannot splash water in all the streets of the city but we are still trying.”
When asked about keeping the roads clean, he said,
“We clean the road but it is not very effective as the project works are under construction."
Source: Prothom Alo.
