Broken roads, construction snarl traffic in Sylhet

Residents of Sylhet city are enduring daily hardship as broken roads, ongoing construction work and persistent traffic congestion combine to disrupt travel across key routes, with commuters in South Surma bearing the burden of the misery.

The city’s deteriorating road conditions have become a major concern for commuters, transport workers and businesses alike. Long-distance passengers, public transport operators and office-goers are among those most affected, with many forced to spend hours navigating damaged roads and traffic bottlenecks every day.

Large potholes have developed at several points on the main road in front of the Kadamtali Central Bus Terminal, one of the busiest transport hubs in Sylhet. The asphalt surface has deteriorated along the two-lane stretch up to Kadamtali Point, making travel slow and hazardous.

Although hundreds of buses, trucks and other vehicles use the road daily, damaged sections force motorists to reduce speed, causing frequent traffic congestion.

Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Khairul Bashar Mohammad Saddam Hossain, said RCC road construction from Humayun Rashid Chattar to Chandipool is progressing as planned.

He added that the tender process for the Chandipool-Lalabazar section has been completed and that RCC pavement, instead of bitumen, will be used in the Bandar Bazar area to improve the road’s durability and reduce future maintenance needs.

Recently, local MP and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir directed the authorities to expedite repairs to damaged roads and ensure the timely completion of the ongoing development work.
A similar situation prevails on the Bandar Bazar-Mirabazar-Tilagarh-Major Tila road.

Numerous potholes and broken sections have appeared along the stretch from Hawkers Point in Bandar Bazar to Shishu Park. Roads in several residential neighbourhoods have also remained in poor condition for years, with residents waiting for long-promised repairs.

Sylhet City Corporation Chief Engineer Ali Akbar said the city’s road network expanded to around 1,400 kilometres after the city boundaries were extended in 2022. He said most roads and drainage systems in the newly added wards require repair and that renovation work on damaged roads would begin in phases after the monsoon.