Khulna city’s landscape changing as roads, drains undergo repairs

Waterlogging, dilapidated roads and deteriorating drainage systems have long plagued residents of Khulna city. However, the city’s landscape has gradually started to change as the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) launched urgent road and drainage repair works from the beginning of this year.

KCC Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju said around 40 work packages have already been completed, while several others are still underway.

KCC Chief Engineer Mashiur Rahman said that after Nazrul Islam Manju took charge as administrator in February, the problems faced by city residents were identified and repair works were launched on an urgent basis.

“Priority was given to reducing waterlogging, repairing damaged roads and restoring non-functional drains,” he said.

He said various development and repair works began on an emergency basis in April, funded by a lump-sum allocation of Tk34.35 crore under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

According to the latest assessment, work under around 40 separate packages has already been completed, while several other projects are still in progress.

KCC Executive Officer Rajib Ahmed said that during the previous government, there was little initiative to implement urgent works quickly.

“Most projects were implemented through the regular tendering process, which took considerable time. As a result, many important roads and drains remained unrepaired for years, causing immense suffering to city residents,” he said. A KCC engineer, wishing to remain unnamed, said ADP lump-sum allocations had previously been divided into large schemes and implemented through lengthy tender processes.

“As a result, most of the work went to certain contractor groups associated with the former government, creating opportunities for irregularities and corruption,” he alleged.

He said that under the current system, small-scale emergency works are being implemented according to actual needs, considerably reducing such opportunities and helping prevent wastage of public money. Most KCC officials and employees said small-scale repair works are now being implemented quickly under the Public Procurement Rules (PPR).

They said emergency works costing up to Tk5 lakh can be carried out through direct contracts, allowing repairs to be undertaken promptly at locations where they are needed.

As a result, public suffering has been reduced considerably, they added.

Since April, a large-scale development drive has been underway, funded by the Tk34.35 crore ADP lump-sum allocation. Officials said the implementation of small emergency works is also helping prevent unnecessary expenditure.

A visit to different parts of the city, including Sadar, Sonadanga, Khalishpur and Daulatpur, found that many roads and lanes had been newly concreted.

Numerous drains had also been repaired. In areas where knee-deep water used to accumulate after even light rainfall, water is now draining away more quickly. Local residents said waterlogging has also decreased significantly in several important areas, including Royal More, one of the city’s busiest intersections.

Zubayer Hossain, a resident of Tutpara, said, “The condition of the lanes used to be very poor. Water would rise whenever it rained. Now many roads have been raised and concreted, and the drains have also been repaired. As a result, waterlogging has decreased, and the mosquito nuisance has also declined to some extent.”

Josna Begum, another resident of the area, said the lanes had previously been almost completely unsuitable for movement.

“Following applications from local residents, the roads were repaired quickly. Now it is easy to travel even by rickshaw,” she said.

KCC Executive Engineer Masud Karim said emergency repair works take a long time if they are carried out through the regular tender or quotation process.

“Therefore, to reduce public suffering, the corporation is implementing the works on an urgent basis under Section 99(1)(d) of the Public Procurement Rules (PPR) 2025,” he said.

He further said every project was being implemented with full transparency.

“Following the KCC administrator’s directives, development activities are being carried out by giving the needs of citizens the highest priority so that city residents can benefit from the improvements within the shortest possible time,” he said.