Kuril left in the dark

Kuril flyover and its adjacent areas in the capital have been left in darkness for months, putting commuters at risk of accidents or falling victim to criminal activities.

There are lighting poles in the area, but upon closer look, it can be seen that most of those are missing bulbs. Even if there are bulbs, they either stopped working or just keep on flickering.

It is a busy area beside the ever-busy Airport road. Buses continue to stop there to pick up or drop off passengers while pedestrians walk on the footpath.

But at night the source of light would be the luxury hotel there, which barely covers anything. Other than that, headlights of vehicles whizzing by are the only other option.

Amid such a situation, criminal and antisocial activities have increased in the area, according to locals. As darkness descends, the area becomes a potential place for falling victim to muggings and road accidents, they added. 

During multiple visits in the evening over the last few weeks -- from Shewra to Le Meridien Dhaka -- this correspondent saw the situation first-hand.

"This place is not safe at all after evening. There is no security here. If there was proper lighting at least, miscreants would think twice before doing anything," said Rafikul Bari, a pedestrian.

Ruma Akter, a private job holder, who got off a bus at Kuril, said, "I am afraid to walk on the footpath alone at night. If I'm late due to work, I call my husband to come and pick me up."

In 2019, artist Morshed Mishu, who was included in the Forbes Asia 30 under 30 list, was mugged at knife point on the flyover at night. He was on a bike with his friend, when a pickup cornered them.

Also near the same area, a Dhaka University student was raped while she was going to Shewra to visit her friend on January 6 last year.

Some parts of the area fall under Dhaka Cantonment, Bhatara and Khilkhet police stations.

Officer-in-Charge Munsi Sabbir Ahmed of Khilkhet Police Station said, "There's no adequate lighting in the area, which can result in accidents. Also, miscreants prefer such places for crimes."

The major part of the area is the 3.1 km Kuril flyover.

The Project Builders Ltd of Bangladesh along with China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation built the flyover at a cost of Tk 306 crore, financed by Rajuk in 2013.

Although Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) usually looks after the street lights of their areas, Banani to airport is taken care of by Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) while Kuril flyover by Rajuk.

Ward-17 Councillor Ishaq Mia's area includes Kuril.

"Many times, I hear about mugging incidents, as there's no proper lighting in the area. Our mayor has asked Rajuk to hand over the responsibility of maintaining the flyover several times. But to no avail."

Julker Nayen, DNCC zone-1 zonal executive, echoed him. "In the last two months, we got 40 complaints of untoward incidents in the area. But we are unable to do anything," he said, adding, the condition of the lights has been like this for several years.

"We asked Rajuk to hand over the flyover to DNCC if they cannot properly maintain it. But they didn't. Now I hear it's going to be handed over to Road Transport and Highways Division," he said.

Asked, Atik Zawad, sub-assistant engineer (civil) of RTHD, said, "We try to maintain the street lights. We have a project upcoming in this regard, where we will be able to set up more lights."

"Although we set up lights, bulbs get stolen and connection lines get damaged. We have informed the local police stations, but it keeps on happening," he claimed.

Contacted this week, Ujjal Mallick, chief engineer (implementation) of Rajuk, said they handed over the responsibility of  Kuril flyover to RTHD two weeks ago.

When asked why they didn't maintain the flyover, he said in the beginning, Rajuk took a plan to maintain it through a third-party operator, which would do so in exchange of the money they would have made from renting out billboards set up there.

"The then DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq wanted to see the plan, and the third-party wasn't interested in it afterwards. Later, Rajuk was supposed to take care of the flyover, but as there was no budget to maintain it, that did not happen," he said.

Rajuk asked DNCC to take over the maintenance two years ago. But they did not respond, then in December last year a meeting took place among Rajuk, LGD and RTHD, where it was decided that RTHD would maintain he flyover, he added.