After renovation, following repeated protests by local residents, it had been the best road in Chittagong city. But only for one year. The road started taking on its old look—full of potholes and barely any sign of tarmac on the surface, here and there.

One major reason is Chittagong Water and Sewerage Authority (C'Wasa) started digging Arakan Road just one year into its renovation, carried out by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA). Invariably the ultimate sufferers are the commuters.

Three years ago, locals took to the street with the demand to renovate the portion from Kalurghat to Bahaddarhat of Arakan Road. Locals at that time protested through planting seedlings of paddy and releasing fish in the water-filled potholes. After the symbolic protest, CDA started the expansion and renovation work.

Apart from the city dwellers, thousands of commuters of Rauzan, Rangunia, and Kaptai upazilas travel this portion, around 5km from Bahaddarhat to Kaptai Rastar Matha. Vehicles from Boalkhali and Patiya upazilas of south Chittagong also enter and exit the city using this road.

Because of its terrible condition, the area is facing increasing traffic congestion, said locals.

In a recent visit, this correspondent found numerous potholes and cracks on the road. Making the situation worse are piles of sands and mud occupying major portions of the road at different spots like Moulabhi Pukur Par, Bahir Signal and Balur Tal areas.

Besides, from Old Chandgaon area to Moulabhi Pukur Par area, there is barely any existence of tarmac.

“We are now facing traffic congestions. We also feel annoyed while riding vehicles due to the cloud of dust produced by excavation work of C'wasa,” said Md Mohiuddin, a local of Bahir Signal area.

“Now it takes two to three times more than the usual time to pass this section,” said Md Khairuzzaman, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, adding that different parts of their vehicles got badly damaged for the potholes.

Md Arman Hossain, another local, said, “We thought we will get rid from the dust and misery after renovation of the road. But our expectation faded out.”

Spending Tk 24 crore, CDA completed the expansion and development work of the road on December 13, 2013. CDA handed over the road to Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) at the end of 2014.

Mahfuzur Rahman, the project director, also executive engineer of CDA, said it was the best road in Chittagong in 2013. But now CCC has given permission to Wasa to excavate the road causing its dilapidated condition, he added.

CCC also took Tk 5 crore from Wasa as compensation for renovating the road, he said.

C'Wasa Managing Director AKM Fazlullah said for supplying water from their Maduna Ghat Project to the city dwellers, they were doing the excavation. He, however, said taking people's sufferings in mind, they were digging at night and filling it up again.

“We are bound to supply water to the city dwellers. After concluding the project, people's misery would be lessened,” he said.

The installation work is likely to be completed in the middle of the next year, he added.

Contacted, admitting the people's suffering, CCC Superintendent Engineer Kamrul Islam said winter was the best time to start the renovation work of the road.

“Several times, we talked with them (C'wasa) about the matter,” said the CCC engineer, adding that they could not take steps to renovate the road as C'wasa's excavation work was continuing.