Illegal structures put up ahead of Dhaka-Sylhet road elevation

Send
Asaduzzaman Ripon, Narsingdi
Published : 02:00, Nov 18, 2019 | Updated : 02:00, Nov 18, 2019

The work to widen the Narsingdi-Dhaka-Sylhet Highway is supposed to start in the current year. Land acquisition is already on near the highway. But hundreds of illegal establishments have come up near the road under the patronage of local circles. Due to poor quality of these structures, there is a big risk of accidents. During acquisition, the government may have to incur huge losses because of these unauthorised structures.
Engineer Mofazzal Haider of the Narsingdi Road and Highways Department said that letters had been sent to people concerned to stop such construction. The four lane elevation project was approved at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in 2018.
In this project, there’s 52km road in Narsingdi. As per rules, structures can be built on both sides of the road at 10 metre distance. Locals say that to get additional reparation from the government, around 150 illegal structures have emerged on both sides of the road.
The illegal construction goes on despite restrictions imposed by local government and the road authority. Locals allege that leaders of the ruling party, business people and others are linked to this racket.
One three storied building is believed to be owned by chairman of Shibpur Upazila chairman’s daughter in law.
Executive Engineer Mofazzal Haider said: “Letters have been issued to the owners of 164 establishments to stop illegal construction and the relevant upazila authorities have been notified.”
Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Syeda Farhana Kaunain observed: “A video of the structures has been sent to the head quarter and upazila authorities and municipal administration have been told to remove the unauthorized buildings.”

/tf/ab/
Top