The absence of a footpath along a one kilometre stretch of road from Thanar Mor to Primary Training Institute (PTI) of Chittagong’s Patiya upazila is causing immense suffering to pedestrians.
Hundreds of public and private vehicles ply on the road from dawn to midnight as it is a part of the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway.
Moreover, both sides of the road are narrowed down by iron rods and metals and cement illegally placed by adjoining shops and workshops.
These pose a risk to the daily movement of thousands of students of a government college, two private colleges, two high schools, a primary school and the PTI along
the stretch.
“The road is very narrow. Bus, CNG-run auto-rickshaw and auto-tempo drivers park their vehicles at random to pick passengers, leaving no room for passers-by,” said
Bhuban Chowdhury, a student of Patiya Government College.
Local people also blamed the traffic department for not imposing fines for such irresponsible acts.
Patiya Municipality Mayor Harun-ur-Rashid said the road did not have enough space to accommodate footpaths.
Institutions along the road, including schools, colleges and the Assistant Commissioner’s (Land) office did not leave six feet for the road, as per construction rules,
while erecting their boundary walls, he said.
“We cannot even build drains for lack of space. Non-availability of adequate funds makes the task more difficult,” he said.
A bypass from Indra Pool to Kamal Munshir Hat, being constructed under an Asian Development Bank project, will be used as an alternative to the road in connecting
Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway, he said.
He hoped that the bypass would reduce vehicular movement along the road, making pedestrian movement easier.
Refuting the allegation about boundary walls, Patiya Government College Principal AN Yusuf Chowdhury said, “As far as I know, the walls were built following existing
rules.”
Chittagong District Police (Patiya) Assistant Superintendent Nazrul Islam said, “We will take immediate steps to remove materials kept illegally on the road.”
-With The Daily Star input
