Residents and commuters in Bijoynagar Upazila of Brahmanbaria are facing severe traffic congestion and inconvenience due to prolonged and sluggish drain re-construction work in the crucial road of Amtali Bazar area.
The project is part of the Chandura Dakbangla to Akhaura land port road, which connects to the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. The Amtali Bazar area has been significantly affected by delays in a drainage construction project. Funded by the government at an estimated cost of Tk 67 lakh, the project involves building a 602-meter-long and 2-foot-wide drain. Work, undertaken by the contractor R.S. Construction, began on October 24, but more than a month later, little progress has been made, worsening traffic conditions daily.
The slow and chaotic pace of the construction has caused significant disruptions for thousands of commuters and vehicles that rely on this route. Traffic jams lasting several hours have become a regular occurrence. A representative of R.S. Construction, Amanullah, acknowledged the delays and attributed them to personal issues faced by subcontractors. He assured that efforts are being made to expedite the work, including nighttime operations, and promised that significant progress would be visible within three days to alleviate public suffering.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the inefficiency of the project. Many have suggested breaking down the 602-meter drainage work into manageable sections and deploying additional workers to accelerate the pace of construction. They highlighted that work has been sporadic, often taking place only two days a week. As a result, vehicles passing through Amtali Bazar are now taking 2 to 4 hours longer than usual.
Sub-Assistant Engineer of Bijoynagar upazila, Mostafizur Rahman Cheragi, said that only 20 percent of the project has been completed so far. He said, “Despite repeated verbal instructions to the contractor, progress has been minimal. We are now preparing to issue a formal notice to ensure the work is completed swiftly.”
The lack of accountability and prolonged delays have left residents demanding immediate action to resolve the crisis and ensure the timely completion of the project.
