HELEMUL ALAM

Once a bustling thoroughfare just four to five years ago, the road stretching from the Dayaganj crossing to Jurain Railgate has now turned into a neglected and damaged route after Bangladesh Railway built a boundary wall along the rail line, significantly narrowing the road.

The road was once used by vehicles from both directions and even had a divider to ensure smooth traffic flow. Although the divider still exists, the western portion of the road has remained abandoned for the last five years.

This vital link between Dayaganj and Jurain, used by vehicles heading toward the southern region through the Postogola Bridge, has now become a corridor of chaos due to reduced width and severe deterioration.

During a recent visit, large sections of the road were found heavily damaged. The narrowed western side, left unusable following the railway demarcation and wall construction, has turned into a dumping ground for garbage and an informal parking zone for trucks, human hauliers, and rickshaws.

Makeshift shanties have also sprung up along the roadside.

Mohammad Al Amin, a resident of Pipe Rasta in Mirhazirbagh, said, “This problem has been going on for a long time. Ever since they built the boundary wall along the railway line, half of this road has become unusable.”

“Since then, there has been no development work here. Later, some work started on the other side, and because of that, this road got even worse. Now only a small portion is usable, and no repair work is being done there either,” he added.

Abdul Al Amin, another resident, said the main stretch is riddled with potholes and becomes submerged during rain.

“This road -- from Jurain to Dayaganj -- is extremely important because thousands of people use it to travel to Gulistan and Tejgaon for work. Now, because of its damaged condition, many vehicles, especially rickshaws, overturn frequently,” he said.

“Before the elevated expressway was built on the other side, all the large buses from the southern districts used this Dayaganj road as their main route. If it is repaired and developed again, it could ease traffic pressure on other routes,” he added.

Residents said while the section near the station remains somewhat functional, the rest of the stretch is broken in places and riddled with potholes.

Mohammad Jony, a resident of Jurain, said, “It used to be a two-way road. Now it is narrow and risky. Auto-rickshaws frequently overturn here.”

Contacted, Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Engineer Fakir said the area falls under the railway’s jurisdiction, and only one side of the road is currently available for use.

“It is not possible to make it two-way. The existing part is being used as a two-way road. On the abandoned side, no vehicles run because its width varies. In some approach areas, it is only five to six feet wide,” he said.

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