Rangpur Correspondent:

A number of arterial roads under the jurisdiction of the Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) have been lying in a dilapidated condition for a long time, with widespread damage, potholes and cracks adding to sufferings of those who travel on them regularly.

The authorities concerned appear to be indifferent to the matter showing symptoms of further delay in removing public woes.

It is learnt, several hundred ditches, cracks and potholes have developed on the important roads in the city, making them barely passable and posing risks of accidents.

The situation gets worse during the monsoon when rainwater accumulates in those craters, making the roads more hazardous as well as impassable.

According to the Rangpur City Corporation authorities, they have 1,456 kilometres of roads under their jurisdiction.

Of the total road stretches, 953 kilometres are paved and 503 kilometres unpaved. Of the 953 kilometres paved roads, about 300 kilometres are in a ramshackle state.

A good number of cars, three-wheelers, motorcycles, trucks, buses and rickshaw-vans regularly ply the roads, sources said.

The worst-damaged roads include the one from Jahaz Company intersection to Satmatha and Mahiganj, Babupara Road, Station Road, Kukrul Road, roads from Cigarette Company area to Hi-Tech Park, from Charmatha area to Islampur, those covering Tinmatha, New Jummapara, Mistripara and Ershad More, GL Roy Road and the ones running through Hazirhat, Tajhat, and Mahiganj.

Small and large potholes have developed along the 4.5-kilometer stretch of the road from the Jahaz Company intersection to Mahiganj-Satmatha, and bitumen carpets are coming off the roads, causing inconvenience to smooth operation of vehicles and easy movement of passengers.

As the roads are very important for public use, thousands of commuters are suffering a lot every day for their current bad shapes.

Patients, elderly persons and students are the worst sufferers of the circumstances.

“The road from Jahaz Company intersection to Satmatha- Mahiganj area in the city is in a very deplorable state. Mishaps are a regular phenomenon on this road. It is wearisome to pull the rickshaw on such a road. Sometimes when I pull rickshaw on this road wheels of the vehicle break and passengers also fall down,” Mostafa Mia(55), a rickshaw-puller told Journalists.

Expressing grievance, Iren Sultana Ruma, a resident of East Guptapara area in Rangpur city told journalists that she has to go to her daughter’s school and coaching centres several times in a day via GL Roy Road and Jahaz Company intersection.

She as well as her daughter has to suffer a lot due the poor condition of the roads. They have to endure plenty of painful jerks to travel via the road, she further said.

Maruf, an autorickshaw driver from Kamal Kachhna area, said, “I drive my auto- rickshaw on this road at least eight times a day, and every time I feel like my vehicle may overturn. If the roads are not in good condition, we suffer losses and the number of passengers also decreases,” he added.

When contacted, Superintending Engineer of Rangpur City Corporation Azam Ali told journalists that repair works of the dilapidated roads were yet to begin owing to the lack of required funds.

They have already sent a project proposal to the ministry concerned asking for fund allocation and are waiting for the approval in this regard. He hoped that repair works will start soon.