CHATTOGRAM, Aug 13: Port city Chattogram is currently grappling with the aftermath of heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, as primary estimate shows at least 50 kilometres of roads have been damaged in the metropolis.
The deluge has left the roads deplorable, rendering them impassable for vehicles. The dire state of the city road network, marked by cracks and potholes, has resulted in severe woes for pedestrians, commuters and drivers alike.
The torrential rain and waterlogging have taken a toll on around 50 to 60 kilometres of roads in the city, according to Chattogram district administration officials.
The persistent rainfall over an eight-day period this month has wreaked havoc on these thoroughfares. In addition to the road network, the city's drainage systems and footpaths have also suffered the consequences of the monsoon downpours.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), told The Financial Express that he would take measures to repair the roads immediately.
"We need around Tk 60 crore to repair the affected roads in the city."
The mayor said he will commence renovations on the main arteries that have been severely affected by the inclement weather as soon as the rainy season subsides.
The mayor said initiatives have already been undertaken to clear drains and canals to mitigate waterlogging risks and safeguard the city's infrastructure.
Sources said the deplorable state of numerous roads, including those at Agrabad, Barik Building, Chattogram Port area, Patenga, Steel Mills, Katgor Bazar, Airport, Muradpur, Oxygen Intersection, Sholoshohor, Dewanhat, Olanker Intersection, Port Connecting Road, Bohoddarhat, College Road, Jamal Khan, Momin Road, Station Road, Kadamtali, Dhonialapara, Chawk Bazar, Sholok Bahar, Katalganj, Bakalia, New Market, SS Khaled Road, Mehdibag, OR Nizam Road, Pahartali and Bayezid Bostami.
The situation is particularly dire on the crucial route leading to Kalurghat Industrial Area, home to a multitude of industries, including multinational giants like Unilever Bangladesh Limited.
Meanwhile, city residents have voiced their concerns over waterlogging frequency in the port city. They said even moderate rainfall triggers substantial water accumulation, which is attributed mainly to a flawed drainage system. Virtually all low-lying sectors of the city succumb to inundation when torrential downpours ensue.
This situation poses an elevated risk for traffic navigating the roadways, as the recent weeks of rain have left the road conditions in a lamentable state. Substantial cavities, carpet damage, the absence of repair initiatives and an unceasing deluge over the current week have collectively conspired to render the city's roads rugged and perilous.
The vast majority of streets and byways within the port city have deteriorated to the point of being unsuitable for vehicular traffic, causing untold hardships for pedestrians, commuters and motorists alike.
Transport proprietors in the port city are compelled to spend extra for vehicular repairs due to the severely deteriorated roadways.
Referring to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Chattogram, the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) on Sunday reported that crops of 165 hectares of land in the city's Panchlaish, Double Mooring and Patenga areas were damaged. Of them, there were Aush paddy and vegetables.
Seedbeds of 32,719 hectares of lands of Aman paddy and 6,567 hectares of crops were damaged in 15 upazilas of the district. Aush paddy was supposed to be harvested at the end of this month.
Gumai Bil which is located in Rangunia upazila and considered a "major grain source" of Chattogram had been under water for a week due to the flood.
Dr Aurbinda Kumar Roy, additional director of Chattogram region at DAE, told UNB that they primarily estimated that crops of over 50,000 hectares of land were damaged by the flood in the city and district.
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman told UNB that the extent of damages caused by the flood was estimated over Tk 135 crore (Tk 1.35 billion) and efforts are on to collect data in this regard.
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