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Traffic jam, waterlogging become bane for residents of Pabna town


Published : 25 Aug 2020 10:06 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 09:34 PM

Although Pabna is a first class municipality, the civic amenities have not come yet. Residents of the municipal area have become restless due to daily traffic jams, waterlogging and occupation of sidewalks in the town.

Waterlogging in different parts of the district town due to light rain and mobile hawkers on the sidewalks are a daily nuisance. On the other hand, auto bikes and battery-powered rickshaws have doubled the suffering of the city dwellers.

The paved drainage system in the municipal area is 120 km and the raw drainage system is 22 km. According to municipal estimates, there are 2,500 battery-powered autobikes and 2,550 autorickshaws. Former principal of Government Bulbul College, Professor Shivjit Nag, a resident of central Pabna, said battery-powered autobikes and autorickshaws were the main obstacles to traffic jams.  In order to free the city from traffic congestion, sustainable initiatives have to be taken in a well-planned manner. 

Kazi Mahbub Morshed Babla, secretary of the Pabna Reporters' Unity, said much of the municipality went under water when it rained heavily. There is no proper drainage system. The citizens became restless during the monsoon season. Meanwhile, Ali Mortuza Biswas Soni, senior vice-president of Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the owners of the shop section centred on Hamid Road, the heart of the city, have been renting sidewalks in front of the shops on daily, weekly and monthly contracts. 

Such allegations have come to us.  He said a subcommittee has already been formed on behalf of the chamber. The committee initially warned traders to refrain from renting sidewalks and keep them free. If they do not comply, we will take strong action. Pabna Deputy Commissioner Kabir Mahmud said regarding the occupation of footpaths in the city, the district administration has from time to time conducted mobile court and eviction campaigns to free the sidewalks.