Delay in the construction work of a road at Ward No 26 under the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) causes immense sufferings to local residents.
Even no immediate respite from waterlogging for users of Garden Road is in sight as the ongoing development work is likely to miss the deadline.
Local people raised a question about the quality of the construction work as some parts of the road went under waist-deep water even after short spell of rain recently.
The important infrastructure, which connects Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue with Green Road, has been neglected for years, they added.
Located behind Bashundhara City shopping mall, the road also connects areas like Dhanmondi, Green Road, Panthapath, Rajabazar, Farmgate and Kawranbazar.
During several visits in the last couple of days, the FE correspondent found that DNCC was repairing the drainage system prior to reconstruction of the road.
Shafiqul Islam, a resident of Garden Road area, said the situation has worsened in recent months as several utility service providers continue to dig the road for installation of pipelines.
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) dug the road several times in recent months, according to sources.
"The road is in bad shape. Recent procrastination is worsening it further," Mr Islam said.
Rainwater seems to reach here from other parts of the city instead of draining away, he said, adding that a portion at the road seems to be comparatively low-lying than other parts in the area.
"We have to pay Tk 10-20 to rickshaw-puller for crossing 25-30 metre road which goes under waist-deep water during heavy rain," he said.
The road is also used by a good number of shoppers moving to and from Bashundhara City shopping mall.
Another resident Nasimul Huq said he cannot enter his residence with his car due to frequent road digging.
"Even during the Eid vacation, we couldn't move at ease as construction materials were kept here and there," he added.
When contacted, councillor of Ward No-26 Shamim Hassan said they are aware of the situation. DNCC Zone-5 is implementing a project to improve the road condition, he said.
"We have also submitted another estimation to address waterlogging problem there," he added.
Small businesses in the area have also been suffering a lot due to poor infrastructure.
Locals also alleged that some homeowners in the neighbourhood have illegally extended their structures to the road which narrowed it.
Some of the building owners are now trying to change the course of pipeline, which may lead to no improvement, they said.
A DNCC official said they were implementing a 0.626- kilometre road construction work including drainage pipeline.
"We have already revised up the budget allocation to Tk 8.6 million to complete the project at request of the local residents to address waterlogging problem," he said.
Responding to a query, he said the development work is scheduled to be completed by August 31, but it would take more time.
"The construction work was delayed due to road digging by other utility service providers," he said.
He, however, said DNCC is going to take up another development project soon involving whole Garden Road so that local residents get relief.
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