Public woes mount as road digging continues in Sylhet

SYLHET, Feb 15: Development work on different streets of the city is going on through digging and repair, causing immense sufferings for commuters.

Sources said the city streets are being given a facelift through drain and road repairs. Road digging for underground cable network work has also started in different places.

Many city-dwellers alleged that the authorities concerned could have started the road development work one after another instead of doing them in the same time.

During a visit to Chouhatta-Rikabibazar road in the city, this correspondent has seen that vehicles are slowly plying amid traffic congestions as one side of the road was closed for repair work.

Chouhatta-Ambarkhana Road's one side was found open for vehicles and pedestrians while the other side is shut for road digging.

Both the roads are connected with the entrances to the shrine of Hajrat Shahjalal (RA) which is visited by thousands of people every day. That's why, severe traffic congestions are created all day.

Shahidul Haque who came here from Dhaka to visit the shrine, said the city sees traffic congestions almost all day. Repair work is going on everywhere.

"Many roads have now become narrow. Due to close of one roadside, pedestrians suffer much," he added.

Another shrine visitor, Ataur Rahman who came here from Cumilla, echoed the similar voice.

Sylhet city of 79 square miles has 1.2 million population with thousands from across the country visiting the city every day. So, a coordinated development programme is very important, said many city people.

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) chief engineer Nur Azizur Rahman said a number of development schemes of road widening, construction of culverts and drains etc are going on in different areas.

He said people are suffering as vehicles get stranded in traffic jams.

However, he said that measures will be taken against those who keep construction materials haphazardly on roads.

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