Home ›› 28 Aug 2021 ›› Front
The ongoing Metrorail project continues to take its toll on businesses in areas like Farmgate, Karwanbazar, Shewrapara, Kazipara, Mirpur-10 and Mirpur-12 for over four years.
The traders’ battle to survive this trying time is getting lengthier while crisis heavier day in and day out.
The project implementing agency is nonchalant about the problems facing the traders who have been pushed to the wall in the wake of ailing business caused by the development work coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Metrorail authority is showing an irresponsible attitude. They did not give us any compensation, nor even tried to address our problems,” said Mahmudur Rahman, a businessman at Shewrapara.
Over 500 businesses have been hit hard at three Metrorail stations—Shewrapara, Kazipara and Mirpur-10—as the ongoing work block the facade of shops in the vicinities.
Traders demanded restitution but authorities did not give a damn to their request so far despite the fact that many businesses have already got their shutters down, with many turning bank defaulters and on course to close down their business.
Krishna Kanti Biswas, additional project director (Environment Health Safety, Land Acquisition and Resettlement) of Metrorail project, said so far 1,400 vendors who were evicted for Metrorail station areas have been compensated but none of the permanent businessmen.
“We did not give any penny to the shop owners as they did not fall under the jurisdiction of our policy and there is no scope to help them,” he said. The government is planning to extend the Metrorail from Motijheel to Kamalapur.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is implementing the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 well known as Metrorail project.
The 20.10-kilometre first elevated Metrorail from Uttara to Motijheel is expected to be complete by 2024 at a cost of Tk 21,985 crore.
Nurul Amin, owner of Hossain Brothers, a shop of electronic accessories, said although Metrorail construction began in 2012, they started to feel the pinch from 2016.
“My monthly sale has plummeted. It is now less than one-fourth of what was previously. I cannot shut my business overnight as I am burdened with debt,” Nurul gave vent to his frustration.
During a recent visit, it was noticed that large slabs and poles were lying on footpaths of Rokeya Sarani blocking public movement.
A number of shops including Cement Bazar, Export Wear, Brother’s Furniture and footwear shops have already got their shutters down.
Locals said in the meantime over 60 shops have either shut or relocated elsewhere incurring a heavy loss.
Vaggakul Mistannovandar shopkeeper Niranjan Babu maintained that this time he struggles to make a sale worth Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 per day but earlier he used to make it around Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000.
Metrorail affected businesses on its entire route but mostly in its station areas.
At Karwan Bazar, traders said that after start of construction works of Metrorail station their sales reduced drastically as public movement on both sides of the station came to a shuddering halt.
“My daily turnover was around Tk one lakh. But now whatever the little sales that I have now it is not even enough me to earn me my monthly shop rent,” said a trader, who runs a hardware shop near Karwan Bazar Metrorail station.
A number of “To Let” signboards were seen hanging in front of the shops seeking tenants.
Amdadul Hoque Milon, the owner of Tabassom Bedding in Mirpur recounted how he switched his business to grocery to only survive amid the ongoing crisis.
“I am overpowered with loan. I still hope that better days will come again following the project. But the authorities could take our issues into account if they really wished so,” he opined.
The much-hyped Metrorail will carry passengers from Uttara 3rd phase to Motijheel within 35 minutes.
The rail will pick and drop passengers at 16 stations which are Uttara North, Uttara Centre, Uttara South, Pallabi, Mirpur 11, Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat, Motijheel.
According to a monthly progress report in July, the overall progress of the fast-track project was 68.49 per cent. The first phase saw 88.18 per cent progress and the second phase -- from Agargaon to Motijheel -- 66.74 per cent. The installation of tracks and other equipment and procurement of cars saw 60.66 per cent progress.
The government earlier decided to inaugurate the first phase of the Metrorail from Uttara to Agargaon by December 2021 marking the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the rest by phases.
Metrorail Managing Director MAN Siddique, however, said they have extended the deadline by December 2022 because of the pandemic that hampered the project work seriously.
