Woes of Bogra town dwellers

Water remains stagnant on Kabi Nazrul Islam Sarak, a busy road in Bogra town for days together because of absence of drains on both sides of the road. PHOTO: STAR

Bogra pourashava sources said, plying of more than 20 thousand illegal rickshaws, slow road expansion and laying of gas pipeline are the main causes of traffic jam in Bogra town.

Pourashava authority issued about 5,000 rickshaw licenses for 14.76 square kilometer pourashava area about 18 years ago.

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But now around 25 thousand rickshaws ply the streets of the town.

A total of 27.50 kilometres of Chancha Road are being maintained by the 129 years old pourashava.

Most of the roads in Bogra town are not fit for vehicular traffic, an official of Bogra Pourashava said.

Only 40 water bodies out of 134 in the town area are alive, official said.

About 50 kilometres out of the town's 100 kilometres drains remain clogged for years, they informed.

A few drains in Bogra town have become clogged during road expansion and gas pipeline laying work. At least 2,000 street lights out of 5,000 in the town are out of order.

The hawkers and traders occupy most of the footpath in Bogra town, said a ward commissioner of Bogra Pourashava.