Purbachal 300 feet road losing its character

The road is popularly known as ‘300 feet road’, apparently because of its unusually broad width of 300 feet.

But it is going to lose the very character for which it was named, thanks to the authorities’ decision to cut the size of the width for a stretch of six kilometers from Kuril to the Balu river.

The city development authorities – Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha – have decided to narrow the road by 65 feet, in order to dig canals on both sides of the road, going against its original plan.   

As a result, it will become 235ft wide instead of 300ft, with the service road on both sides, and a portion of the road divider, being removed.

Purbachal road connects Dhaka and RAJUK Purbachal New Town. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) officials said two canals were being dug on both sides of the road.
Initially these were to be excavated at the edges of the road, but ultimately 32 feet of the canals will cut into the 300 feet road to accommodate the two canals on either side.

The two 100 feet canals and using the 300 feet road area for development projects were approved at the board meeting of the government city development authorities, Rajuk, on 30 June. The canal excavation and development projects were inaugurated on 8 July.

Chairman of the Centre for Urban Study and town expert professor Nazrul Islam told Prothom Alo that the 300 feet road was a part of the original plan of Rajuk.

“Narrowing the road instead of widening it is not acceptable,” he said, adding that around two million people will live in Purbachal town. How will those residents move? he asked.

Rajuk project officials said two 30 feet wide roads will be constructed on the land acquired for canals to facilitate some private projects on either sides of the Purbachal highway. That is why the canals are being shifted to take up a part of the 300 feet road.

More land would have to be acquired to construct those two roads if the canals were not shifted. This would entail Tk 1500 crore (Tk 15 billion). The land for the canal was acquired for a higher price.

Rajuk chairman Abdur Rahman said 300 feet road is on shrinking slightly, the width of canals remains 100 feet each. The service road and footpath on the other side of the canals are also essential, he added.

Rajuk chairman said that the private developers are not given facilities.

According to Rajuk and locals, Sylhet and Chittagong-bound vehicles from Tangail, Mymensingh and Gazipur are using this road.

After the arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Sylhet and Chittagong-bound passengers also use this road to avoid traffic congestion in the capital.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, joint secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Iqbal Habib, said only the private housing projects and other organisations will be benefited by the service road on the other side of the canal, narrowing the 300 feet road.

Keeping in mind the traffic management of next 40 years, he said the 300 feet road can't be reduced under any circumstance.

Residents of the area said it would be more beneficial for the people if the 300 feet was widened.

Imdadul Alam, a resident in the area, said he had heard the 300 feet would be narrowed, but did not believe it.

*This report originally published in the Prothom Alo print edition has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.