Photo : TDM
Madaripur bus terminal, constructed at a cost of Tk 24 crore, has yet to open its doors to the public, causing immense suffering for transporters and passengers. Although the construction work was finished nearly a year ago, various complications, including the lack of an electricity connection, have prevented the terminal from becoming operational.
As a result, inter-district and long-distance buses are forced to park on both sides of the highway, leading to increased traffic congestion and disruptions in the movement of ordinary vehicles and pedestrians. Bus drivers are left with no choice but to stop on the highway to pick up passengers, raising concerns about potential accidents.
Situated near Madaripur city, adjacent to the Sheikh Hasina highway, the modern bus terminal stands empty, devoid of any vehicles. Instead, long-distance buses are parked in front of the terminal on both sides of the highway, and temporary counters have been set up using chairs and tables. The locked entrance to the terminal leaves passengers exposed to the elements, standing under the open sky or by the roadside, enduring the scorching sun and heavy rain while waiting to board buses.
Khandkar Kamrul Hasan, President of the Madaripur Road Transport Bus Owners Association, expressed the suffering caused by the terminal's inoperability. He highlighted the dangers of parking buses on the road during monsoons and emphasized the inconvenience faced by passengers due to the non-functional terminal.
According to sources from the Madaripur Municipal Office, the construction work was assigned to Alauddin Trading Co. Ltd. of Faridpur. While the project was initially scheduled for completion by December 2019, the contractor obtained three extensions over three years, citing various reasons. The last contractor finally completed the construction of the modern bus terminal on April 30 of the previous year.
Chief Engineer Fazlur Haque from Alauddin Trading Co. Ltd. confirmed that the construction work was finished, but some pending electrical tasks remain due to the absence of an electricity connection.
Since 2013, the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited has demanded Tk 3 crore 51 lakh in electricity bill arrears for 21 meters under Madaripur Municipality. A court case was filed by the mayor of Madaripur municipality in July of the same year to address the disputed bill. Unfortunately, the case remains unresolved, and the electricity department has refrained from connecting the Madaripur bus terminal.
Executive Officer Khandkar Abu Ahmad Firoz Ilyas from Madaripur municipality assured that the pending bills would be verified and paid, hopeful that the electricity connection would be established soon.
Mizanur Rahman, the Executive Engineer of the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited Madaripur office, clarified that the municipality must complete the application process for the electricity connection. Once the application is submitted in full compliance with the rules, the power connection will be provided without any complications.
TDM/SD
