Development works come to stalemate

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is being run without proper guardianship as its Mayor Annisul Haq has been living in abroad for his treatment for last four months. Consequently, development activities of the city corporation have got almost halted in the midway putting the city dwellers in difficulties.

DNCC consists of 36 wards covering several areas including Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Pallabi, Adabor, Kafrul, Dhaka Cantonment , Tejgaon, Gulshan, Rampura, Banani, Khilkhet, Vatara, Turag, Badda, Uttara, Uttarkhan, Dakkshinkhan. It is one of the two municipal corporations, while DSCC is another one.  Annisul Huq was elected as first Mayor in the city corporation polls held on April 28 in 2015.

After taking the charge as a Mayor, several sectors including roads, lanes, bridges, culverts and other installations under the city corporation got touch of development.

Most of the development works were running fast. But these got halted in the midway when the Mayor fell into sick and left the country for his treatment. Now he is taking treatment under Intensive  Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in London.

During a visit to different spots of DNCC this correspondent observed the dilapidated condition of different roads and footpaths. Vehicles were running with difficulty due to unplanned digging and incomplete construction works, while pedestrians were facing trouble for bad shape of the footpaths.

Describing the worn-out condition of the Old Airport Road, Ariful Islam, a resident of Tejkunipara said: “Footpaths and roadsides of the Old Airport Road from Sonargaon intersection to Bijoy Sarani intersection via Farmgate were excavated for development works. Though, a long time has already been exceeded, the works remain incomplete due to negligence of the contactor and authorities concerned.

The works of tiles setting are yet to complete causing immense suffering to the pedestrians who use the footpath. Several construction materials including brickbats have remained stack up at places blocking the walking way. But, there is no monitoring.”

Alongside, Agargaon and Sher-E-Bangla Nagor are most important areas in the city. Many important installations and government offices like Science and Technology Museum, Islamic Foundation, University Grants Commission, Bureau of Statistics, LGED, Environment Department, Bangladesh Open University, Bangladesh Computer Council, PKSF, Bangladesh Coastguard, Meteorological Building, Forest Building, Directorate of Social Services, Passport and Departure Department, Bangladesh Employment Commission, Bangladesh Technical Education Department, SAARC Meteorology Research Center and the Department of Archeology are locating in the area.

Roads in the area are very busy and important for commuters. But, the conditions of the roads are very poor. Though, the renovation works are going on at some places the unplanned works have caused severe traffic jam and sufferings to the commuters.

Faridul Islam, resident of Agargaon area said: “It seems that the roads are ponds of stagnating water after a little rain due to the unplanned digging and incomplete construction works. Besides, most of the lamp posts hardly have lights. Consequently, spectral environment prevails in the area at night.”

Such situation has been created due to the absence of Mayor. If he would be here such situation would not be created, Faridul Islam added . DNCC chief engineer Brig Gen Md Sayed Anwarul Islam told The Asian Age: “Development works have been halted at some points due to some writ petitions filed in the court.

Besides, some contactors are delaying to complete the works on the plea of financial crisis.” The responsible contactors will be black listed for their negligence and proper actions will be taken against them, he added.