The government has the responsibility of providing efficient delivery of public services. Public utilities comprise all sorts of transport, power and gas, water and sanitation and all means of communication like telephone and postal services. They also cover provisions for ensuring safety, security and protection of life, liberty and wealth of people at large. These utilities in some way or the other provide the daily necessities of life. These are also essential for modern-day living and basic inputs for economic development.
Bangladesh has still a long way to go in delivering utilities to the people and in meeting their demands efficiently. It has to create adequate facilities for safe water supply and sanitation. It has to ensure an effective mass transportation system, a reasonable energy supply, adequate measures for safety, security and protection of life, liberty and wealth and adequate health services to the people.
Of late, the road transport sector is in a horrible situation. The Dhaka-Chittagong highway, the Dhaka-Mymensingh road and some others are in damaged condition, causing immense sufferings to the people and impacting the economy.
Transport is the most important sector and usually it gets the highest allocation in the development budget. In the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of fiscal year (FY) 2014-15, the allocation for the sector is more than Tk 180 billion which is about 23 per cent of the total ADP outlay.
A total of 189 projects have been undertaken in the present fiscal out of which 178 projects are related to investment. The allocation for this sector has been the highest over the last few years. In the transport sector, roads and highways occupy the most important position. A survey shows that more than 88 per cent of passengers and 80 per cent of goods in Bangladesh are transported by roads. According to official statistics, there are 21,454 kilometres of roads under the Directorate of Roads and Highways. Of these, the national highways account for 3,538 km, regional highways 4,278 km and district or feeder roads 13,638 km. On the other hand, the Local Government Engineering Directorate (LGED) claims to have 93,734 km of pucca roads under its jurisdiction.
During FY 2012-13, the Directorate of Roads and Highways spent about Tk 34 billion against 128 development projects. During FY 2013-14, this directorate spent about Tk 32 billion against 114 projects. The allocation for R&H Directorate for the FY 2014-15 is Tk 37.92 billion.
It is claimed that sealcoat along with carpeting works was done on 800 km of roads and repair and sealcoat works were done on 2,300 km roads during the last fiscal year by the R&H Directorate under the non-development budget. The progress in development of many roads and highways including elevation of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway to 4 lanes is deplorable. The latter project, undertaken in 2006 with an estimated cost of Tk 32 billion, could spend only Tk. 13.37 billion till March 2014. An amount of Tk 5 billion was allocated for the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway during FY 2013-14. Only Tk 2.04 billion could be spent. Similarly, the progress of the Joydevpur-Mymensingh road has been poor. This project was approved in June 2010 with an allocation of Tk 18.15 billion. Unfortunately, Tk 5.18 billion was spent till March, 2014. Similar is the fate of a number of projects out of 114 in the ADP which could not be completed over the last 5 to 10 years.
Repair and maintenance are an important component of every project. This issue has not yet been seriously dealt with in Bangladesh in the sense that pre-allocation is not shown in the budget. This is treated as a grey area where misuse of money is anticipated. The government has to allocate funds every year for repair and maintenance under compulsion. But people suffer and funds are misused.
The recent hue and cry about dilapidated condition of many roads including Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Jessore-Khulna, Barisal-Mawa and Ashulia roads and highways is the result of negligence of the concerned ministry and directorate in taking steps for repair and maintenance of roads and highways at appropriate times as well as completion of ongoing projects. The Communication Minister has been pledging off and on about improving road conditions. He is setting deadline everyday. The minister made similar assurances before several past Eids. He said he was not making any fun. Unfortunately, the roads are behaving funny. Roads and highways are found to be in damaged conditions. There are giant potholes. There is stagnant water. There are unbearable traffic jams. The six-hour journey from Dhaka to Chittagong takes 10 to 12 hours. People suffer. Time is lost. Passengers and businessmen are paying high tariff for transportation. The economy is incurring losses. A proper response from the authorities at the right time could easily have avoided this horrible situation.
Mere speeches are not enough. These do not earn credit for the government. People want safe and timely journey to their destinations. Businessmen want timely shipment and delivery of merchandises at affordable cost. This is one of several public utilities like uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas, safe water and sanitation, health services, protection of life, liberty and property. People are not happy with tall talks. They want efficient public service delivery by the government. The success of the government is measured by how far it can deliver public services efficiently.
The writer is an economist and columnist. chowdhuryjafar@ymail.com
Plight of roads and highways before Eid
Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury | Published: July 26, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like