Rural Roads in the Coastal Areas of Rural Roads in the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh: Some Concerning IssuesBangladesh: Some Concerning Issues

A Study of Batiaghata Upazila, Khulna District, BangladeshA Study of Batiaghata Upazila, Khulna District, Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Ghulam Murtaza, ProfessorDr. Md. Ghulam Murtaza, Professorandand

Maitry Biswas LecturerMaitry Biswas LecturerMaitry Biswas, LecturerMaitry Biswas, LecturerUrban & Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna Urban & Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna

UniversityUniversity

BackgroundBackground

TheThe coastalcoastal regionregion ofof BangladeshBangladesh isis locatedlocated alongalong thethe BayBay ofof BengalBengal spreadingspreading overover fromfromthethe southsouth--westernwestern toto southsouth--easterneastern partpart ofof thethe countrycountry

TheThe coastalcoastal regionregion hashas anan areaarea ofof aboutabout 710710 squaresquare kilometerskilometers..

TheThe wholewhole coastalcoastal areaarea isis veryvery muchmuch susceptiblesusceptible toto naturalnatural calamitiescalamities andand climateclimatechangechange andand thesethese havehave adverselyadversely affectedaffected liveslives andand livelihoodslivelihoods inin thethe coastalcoastal zonezone andandslowedslowed downdown thethe pacepace ofof socialsocial andand economiceconomic developmentsdevelopments ofof thisthis regionregion..

MostMost ofof thethe settlementssettlements inin thethe coastalcoastal areaarea areare ofof linearlinear typetype locatedlocated alongalong thethe riversrivers..

ThoughThough thethe waterwayswaterways isis oneone ofof thethe majormajor meansmeans ofof transportationstransportations inin thethe coastalcoastal areasareasofof thethe countrycountry butbut thethe roadsroads alsoalso playplay aa significantsignificant rolerole inin thethe ruralrural people’speople’s movementsmovementsforfor socialsocial culturalcultural andand economiceconomic purposespurposesforfor social,social, culturalcultural andand economiceconomic purposespurposes..

Specifically,Specifically, thethe presentpresent studystudy describesdescribes thethe factualfactual situationsituation ofof thethe ruralrural peoplepeople usingusingruralrural roadsroads inin termsterms ofof conditionsconditions andand typestypes ofof roads,roads, roadroad users’users’ safetysafety andand comfort,comfort,modemode ofof transportstransports usedused forfor differentdifferent purposes,purposes, users’users’ participationparticipation inin roadsroads construction,construction,improvementimprovement andand maintenance,maintenance, andand thethe rolerole ofof thethe organizationsorganizations involvedinvolved inin roadsroadsimprovementimprovement andand maintenance,maintenance, andand thethe rolerole ofof thethe organizationsorganizations involvedinvolved inin roadsroadsconstruction,construction, improvementimprovement andand maintenancemaintenance..

InIn thisthis context,context, BatiaghataBatiaghata UpazilaUpazila (sub(sub district)district) underunder KhulnaKhulna DistrictDistrict locatedlocated inin thethesouthsouth--westernwestern partpart ofof thethe coastalcoastal areaarea ofof BangladeshisBangladeshis selectedselected asas studystudy areaarea..

Road Network, Classification and Institutional Road Network, Classification and Institutional arrangementsarrangementsarrangementsarrangements

Road,Road, railrail andand inlandinland waterwayswaterways constituteconstitute thethe inlandinland surfacesurface transporttransport inin BangladeshBangladesh..

LandLand transporttransport infrastructureinfrastructure particularlyparticularly roadroad networknetwork isis fragmentedfragmented byby numerousnumerous ferryferry crossingscrossings andand LandLand transporttransport infrastructureinfrastructure particularlyparticularly roadroad networknetwork isis fragmentedfragmented byby numerousnumerous ferryferry crossingscrossings andandlandland transporttransport hashas toto movemove overover circuitouscircuitous routesroutes becausebecause ofof extensiveextensive riverriver systemssystems andand samesame inin thethecasecase ofof thethe coastalcoastal regionregion oror eveneven moremore..

costscosts forfor constructionconstruction andand maintenancemaintenance ofof transporttransport infrastructureinfrastructure particularlyparticularly roadroad networknetwork areare veryvery highhighbecausebecause ofof difficultdifficult terrainterrain scatteredscattered withwith numerousnumerous waterwater courses,courses, periodicperiodic floodingflooding requiringrequiring elevatedelevatedbecausebecause ofof difficultdifficult terrainterrain scatteredscattered withwith numerousnumerous waterwater courses,courses, periodicperiodic floodingflooding requiringrequiring elevatedelevatedinfrastructureinfrastructure embankments,embankments, andand poorpoor soilsoil conditionsconditions coupledcoupled withwith generalgeneral scarcityscarcity ofof constructionconstructionmaterialsmaterials andand lacklack ofof adequateadequate constructionconstruction industryindustry..

RoadRoad traffictraffic scenarioscenario inin BangladeshBangladesh asas wellwell asas inin thethe coastalcoastal areasareas isis characterizedcharacterized byby thethe presencepresence ofofbothboth motorizedmotorized andand nonnon--motorizedmotorized vehiclesvehicles plyingplying onon allall roadsroads..p y gp y g

LocallyLocally mademade motorizedmotorized vehiclesvehicles areare seenseen plyingplying moremore onon thethe ruralrural roadsroads inin thethe countrycountry includingincluding inin thethecoastalcoastal areasareas whichwhich createscreates seriousserious problemproblem..

RoadsRoads inin BangladeshBangladesh areare classifiedclassified inin fourfour mainmain groupsgroups;; nationalnational highwayshighways regionalregional highwayshighways feederfeeder RoadsRoads inin BangladeshBangladesh areare classifiedclassified inin fourfour mainmain groupsgroups;; nationalnational highways,highways, regionalregional highways,highways, feederfeederroadsroads andand locallocal roadsroads..

NationalNational highwayshighways connectconnect thethe nationalnational capitalcapital withwith districtdistrict headquarters,headquarters, portport citiescities andand internationalinternationalhighwayshighways.. RegionalRegional highwayshighways connectconnect differentdifferent regionsregions andand districtdistrict headquartersheadquarters ((6464 districts)districts).. FeederFeederroadsroads areare ofof twotwo typestypes:: feederfeeder roadsroads typetype AA andand feederfeeder roadsroads typetype BB.. TypeType AA feederfeeder roadsroads connectconnectypyp ypyp ypyp ypypUpazilaUpazila (lowest(lowest tiertier ofof administration)administration) headquartersheadquarters andand importantimportant growthgrowth centrescentres toto thethe mainmain arterialarterial roadroadnetwork,network, whilewhile typetype BB feederfeeder roadsroads connectconnect growthgrowth centrescentres withwith otherother growthgrowth centrescentres andand UpazilaUpazilaheadquartersheadquarters.. LocalLocal roadsroads includeinclude municipalmunicipal roadsroads andand ruralrural roadsroads..

ThereThere areare threethree typestypes ofof ruralrural roadsroads:: typetype 11 roadsroads thatthat connectconnect aboutabout 21002100 growthgrowthcentrescentres withwith farmsfarms;; typetype 22 roadsroads thatthat connectconnect unionunion headquartersheadquarters ((45514551)) andand locallocal

Continuation………Continuation………centrescentres withwith farmsfarms;; typetype 22 roadsroads thatthat connectconnect unionunion headquartersheadquarters ((45514551)) andand locallocalmarketsmarkets withwith villagesvillages andand farmsfarms;; andand typetype 33 roadsroads thatthat includeinclude roadsroads withinwithin thethe villagevillage..

RoadsRoads andand HighwaysHighways DepartmentDepartment (RHD),(RHD), thethe centralcentral agencyagency ofof thethe Government,Government, isisresponsibleresponsible forfor construction,construction, improvementimprovement andand maintenancemaintenance ofof thethe national,national, regionalregional andandtt AA f df d ddtypetype AA feederfeeder roadsroads..

TypeType BB feederfeeder roadsroads andand ruralrural roadsroads (except(except municipalmunicipal roads)roads) areare builtbuilt andand maintainedmaintainedbyby thethe LocalLocal GovernmentGovernment EngineeringEngineering DepartmentDepartment (LGED)(LGED) inin collaborationcollaboration withwith locallocalgovernmentgovernment bodiesbodies likelike districtdistrict council,council, UpazilaUpazila ParishadParishad andand UnionUnion ParishadParishad..gg ,, pp

ConstructionConstruction andand maintenancemaintenance ofof municipalmunicipal andand urbanurban roadsroads areare thethe responsibilityresponsibility ofofmunicipalmunicipal bodiesbodies likelike citycity corporationscorporations andand municipalitiesmunicipalities (Pourashavas)(Pourashavas)..

LGEDLGED underunder thethe MinistryMinistry ofof LocalLocal GovernmentGovernment andand RuralRural DevelopmentDevelopment andandyy ppCooperativesCooperatives isis entrustedentrusted withwith thethe constructionconstruction ofof smallersmaller feederfeeder roadsroads connectingconnectinggrowthgrowth centres,centres, villagesvillages andand UpazilaUpazila headquartersheadquarters..

Objectives of this studyObjectives of this studyObjectives of this studyObjectives of this study Finding out the problems and concerns of the rural road users;Finding out the problems and concerns of the rural road users; Enlisting the problems and concerns of the service providers in the rural roads; Enlisting the problems and concerns of the service providers in the rural roads; Identifying the organization role in rural roads construction improvement andIdentifying the organization role in rural roads construction improvement and maintenance;maintenance; Identifying the organization role in rural roads construction, improvement andIdentifying the organization role in rural roads construction, improvement and maintenance; maintenance;

and, and, Putting forward some recommendations in addressing the above issues and problems. Putting forward some recommendations in addressing the above issues and problems.

Batiaghata Upazila Batiaghata Upazila -- The Study AreaThe Study Area Batiaghata Upazila is located in Khulna District which Batiaghata Upazila is located in Khulna District which also lies in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Location between 22034’ and 22046’ north latitudes and between 89024’ and 89037’ east longitudes

Continuation …….Continuation ……. AdministrativeAdministrative unitsunits:: 77 unions,unions, 132132 mouzasmouzas andand 169169 villagesvillages AreaArea:: 248248..3333 sqsq.. kmkm PopulationPopulation:: 140140,,574574 (as(as perper census,census, 20012001)) DensityDensity:: 566566 personspersons perper sqsq.. kmkm

H h ldH h ld ii HouseholdHousehold sizesize:: 44..77 HousingHousing structurestructure:: 66..3232%% JhupriJhupri (make(make shift),shift), 8585..4545%% katchakatcha (temporary),(temporary),

44..7373%% semisemi--puccapucca (semi(semi permanent)permanent) andand 33..5050%% puccapucca (permanent)(permanent) LiteracyLiteracy raterate:: averageaverage literacyliteracy 5353%% ofof populationpopulation agedaged 77 yearsyears andand aboveabove LiteracyLiteracy raterate:: averageaverage literacyliteracy 5353%% ofof populationpopulation agedaged 77 yearsyears andand aboveabove EducationalEducational institutionsinstitutions:: universityuniversity 11,, collegecollege 44,, secondarysecondary schoolschool 2626,,

governmentgovernment primaryprimary schoolschool 6767,, nonnon--governmentgovernment primaryprimary schoolschool 4444,, madrasamadrasa 44 MainMain sourcessources ofof incomeincome ofof thethe householdshouseholds:: 5757..4545%% dependdepend onon agricultureagriculture ofof

whichwhich livestocklivestock forestryforestry andand fisheriesfisheries 3636 4949%% agriculturalagricultural labourerlabourer 2020 9696%%whichwhich livestock,livestock, forestryforestry andand fisheriesfisheries 3636..4949%%,, agriculturalagricultural labourerlabourer 2020..9696%%,,wagewage labourerlabourer 88..7272%%,, commercecommerce 1313..2121%%,, transporttransport 44..6363%%,, constructionconstruction 11..6969%%,,serviceservice 66..4545%%,, rentrent andand remittanceremittance 00..1616%%,, religiousreligious serviceservice 00..2222%% andand othersothers77..4747%%

LandLand useuse:: TotalTotal cultivationcultivation landland 1849418494 5353 hectareshectares fallowfallow landland 6060 7070 hectareshectares;; LandLand useuse:: TotalTotal cultivationcultivation landland 1849418494..5353 hectares,hectares, fallowfallow landland 6060..7070 hectareshectares;;singlesingle cropcrop 8787..7474%%,, doubledouble cropcrop 1111..2727%%,, trebletreble cropcrop 00..9999%%

CottageCottage industriesindustries:: HandloomHandloom 55,, ironiron smithsmith 1414,, potteriespotteries 7676,, goldsmithgoldsmith 2020 MarketsMarkets:: 2626 MainMain exportsexports itemsitems:: PrawnPrawn (both(both galdagalda andand bagda)bagda) HealthHealth:: UpazilaUpazila healthhealth complexcomplex 11,, satellitesatellite clinicclinic 22,, UnionUnion familyfamily planningplanning andand

welfarewelfare centres/clinicscentres/clinics 66,, veterinaryveterinary hospitalhospital 11

Methods and MaterialsMethods and Materials

BatiaghataBatiaghata upazilaupazila isis selectedselected asas studystudy areaarea becausebecause Firstly,Firstly, itit representsrepresents thethe characteristicscharacteristics ofof thethe roadsroads inin coastalcoastal regionsregions;; Secondly,Secondly, nearnessnearness toto thethe authors’authors’ workwork placeplace;; andand ThirdlyThirdly easinesseasiness ofof collectingcollecting datadata andand informationinformation Thirdly,Thirdly, easinesseasiness ofof collectingcollecting datadata andand informationinformation..

TheThe datadata andand informationinformation onon thethe problemsproblems andand concernsconcerns ofof thethe ruralrural roadroad users,users,thethe serviceservice providers,providers, thethe organizationalorganizational rolerole inin ruralrural roadsroads construction,construction,improvementimprovement andand maintenance,maintenance, andand viewsviews andand opinionsopinions ofof thethe ruralrural roadroad users,users,

ii idid dd i l di l d i tii ti hh bb ll t dll t d ff thth t dt dserviceservice providersproviders andand involvedinvolved organizationsorganizations havehave beenbeen collectedcollected fromfrom thethe studystudyareaarea ii..ee..,, BatiaghataBatiaghata UpazilaUpazila (a(a subsub--districtdistrict ofof Khulna)Khulna).. SomeSome otherother pertinentpertinentinformationinformation werewere alsoalso collectedcollected fromfrom thethe secondarysecondary sourcessources andand searchingsearchingInternetInternet..

PurposivePurposive samplingsampling techniquetechnique hashas beenbeen appliedapplied toto collectcollect datadata andand informationinformationfromfrom thethe ruralrural roadroad users,users, thethe serviceservice providersproviders andand institutionsinstitutions responsibleresponsible forforroadroad constructionconstruction andand maintenancemaintenance.. AltogetherAltogether 200200 ruralrural roadroad usersusers travelingtraveling fromfrom differentdifferent importantimportant nodes/places,nodes/places,gg gg pp pp 5050 differentdifferent typestypes ofof kindskinds serviceservice providersproviders ii..ee..,, differentdifferent vehiclesvehicles plying,plying, 33 organizationsorganizations namelynamely LGED,LGED, UpazilaUpazila Parishad,Parishad, UnionUnion ParishadParishad werewere directlydirectly

interviewedinterviewed..

Further,Further, severalseveral focusfocus groupgroup discussionsdiscussions (FGDs)(FGDs) werewere alsoalso conductedconducted withwithdifferentdifferent groupsgroups toto obtainobtain andand verifyverify fieldfield basedbased informationinformation..

FindingsFindings

TypesTypes ofof VehiclesVehicles UsedUsed BothBoth motorizedmotorized andand nonnon--motorizedmotorized vehiclesvehicles areare

usedused inin thethe studystudy areaarea MajorityMajority ofof thethe peoplepeople dodo notnot havehave anyany personalpersonal

vehiclevehicle.. VeryVery fewfew ((11--22%%)) havehave theirtheir ownownvehiclesvehicles (motorcycle,(motorcycle, bicycle,bicycle, vanvan oror privateprivate car)car)e c ese c es ( o o cyc e,( o o cyc e, b cyc e,b cyc e, aa oo p a ep a e ca )ca )whichwhich theythey useuse solelysolely forfor personalpersonal purposespurposes

TheThe followingfollowing vehiclesvehicles areare foundfound asas modemode ofoftransporttransport inin thethe studystudy areaarea.. BicycleBicycle

Van BicycleBicycle VanVan (locally(locally knownknown asas vanvan whichwhich isis aa kindkind ofof

tricycle,tricycle, mostlymostly sharedshared byby aa fewfew passengers)passengers) NosimonNosimon (engine(engine drivendriven tricycle,tricycle, mostlymostly sharedshared byby

manymany passengers)passengers)manymany passengers)passengers) MotorMotor cyclecycle EasyEasy bikebike BabyBaby taxi/tempotaxi/tempo BusBus Nosimon

Continuation……..Continuation……..R d C diti P ’ C tiR d C diti P ’ C tiRoad Condition, Passengers’ CongestionRoad Condition, Passengers’ Congestion

Continuation……..Continuation……..

Number of Vehicles PlyingNumber of Vehicles PlyingTypes of vehicle Number %

V 1652 44 66

Conditions of the RoadsConditions of the Roads

Opinion of the road user about road conditionVan 1652 44.66Bicycle 963 26.03Nosimon 243 6.57M t l 626 16 92

p

29%12% 0%

Very badBadGoodMotor cycle 626 16.92

Easy bike 138 3.73Baby taxi/tempo 40 1.08

59%

GoodExcellent

Bus 37 1.00Total 3699 100

Van is the most suitable

Road condition is bad which means there are holes, uneven surface, cracks, no drains, no passenger shed, etc on the roadsVan is the most suitable

vehicle for the earthen roads in the coastal area and also it is the most

passenger shed, etc on the roads

less costly vehicle for both the men pulling and the passengers

Continuation…… Continuation…… PurposesPurposes ofof Travel/VisitsTravel/Visits PurposesPurposes ofof Travel/VisitsTravel/Visits

SameSame usersusers useuse differentdifferent vehiclesvehicles forfor differentdifferent traveltravel purposespurposes andand alsoalso useuse differentdifferentvehiclesvehicles forfor thethe samesame reasonreason ofof traveltravel..

ForFor example,example, inin thethe casecase ofof educationeducation purpose,purpose, schoolsschools goinggoing (especially(especially primaryprimary level)level) ForFor example,example, inin thethe casecase ofof educationeducation purpose,purpose, schoolsschools goinggoing (especially(especially primaryprimary level)level)studentsstudents generallygenerally gogo toto schoolsschools byby walkwalk.. ButBut ifif thethe distancedistance ofof thethe schoolschool isis veryvery longlongandand thethe wayway toto schoolschool supportssupports anyany transporttransport vehiclevehicle thenthen theythey useuse vanvan oror bicyclebicycle andandsometimessometimes motorizedmotorized vehiclesvehicles..

Choice of vehicle with travel purpose

9 195 161711

15

9

23

14Others

21

6

32

18

3

8

14

14

11

9

13

2

5

3

17

13

15

13

3

M di l

Religion

visiting relatives

el p

urpo

se

BusBaby taxi/tempoBicycleNosimonEasy bike

23

1

37

33

1

2

4

4

5

19

1

14

11

15

10

2

3

2

6

Education

Work

Medical

Trav

e

Motor cycleVanBy walk

41341

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Percentage

Continuation……..Continuation……..

VehiclesVehicles UsedUsed byby LevelLevel ofof IncomeIncome TheThe LowLow incomeincome peoplepeople {upto{upto BDTBDT 50005000 perper monthmonth ((11 USUS$$ == BDTBDT 7070)})} useuse vanvan ((1717%%),),

nosimonnosimon ((1111%%)) andand busbus ((1414%%)) asas modemode ofof transporttransport sincesince thesethese areare lessless costlycostly whichwhichnosimonnosimon ((1111%%)) andand busbus ((1414%%)) asas modemode ofof transporttransport sincesince thesethese areare lessless costlycostly whichwhichthethe poorpoor peoplepeople cancan affordafford

TheThe middlemiddle incomeincome peoplepeople (BDT(BDT 50005000 toto BDTBDT 2500025000 perper month)month) useuse allall typestypes ofof modesmodesavailableavailable onon inin thethe wayway;; theirtheir choicechoice ofof vehiclevehicle dependsdepends onon theirtheir traveltravel purposespurposes

V hi lV hi l dd bb AA GG dd G dG d

TheThe highhigh incomeincome peoplepeople (above(above BDTBDT 3000030000 perper month)month) generallygenerally avoidavoid publicpublic transportstransportsandand havehave thethe tendencytendency ofof usingusing theirtheir personalpersonal vehiclesvehicles

VehiclesVehicles usedused byby AgeAge GroupGroup andand GenderGender UseUse ofof vehiclevehicle inin thethe studystudy areaarea doesdoes notnot varyvary significantlysignificantly withwith ageage groupgroup ButBut thethe choicechoice ofof vehiclevehicle variesvaries withwith gendergender WomenWomen areare foundfound inin usingusing vanvan,, nosimonnosimon,, andand easyeasy bikesbikes inin almostalmost equalequal ratioratio withwith WomenWomen areare foundfound inin usingusing vanvan,, nosimonnosimon,, andand easyeasy bikesbikes inin almostalmost equalequal ratioratio withwith

thosethose ofof menmen.. ButBut inin bus,bus, bicycle,bicycle, motorcyclemotorcycle andand babybaby taxi/tempotaxi/tempo thethe ratioratio variesvaries andandmenmen areare foundfound inin aa largelarge proportionproportion..

LackLack ofof security,security, discomfortdiscomfort andand overover crowding,crowding, etcetc areare somesome ofof thethe reasonsreasons notnot forforusingusing bus,bus, bicycle,bicycle, motorcyclemotorcycle andand babybaby taxi/tempotaxi/tempo byby thethe womenwomen..usingusing bus,bus, bicycle,bicycle, motorcyclemotorcycle andand babybaby taxi/tempotaxi/tempo byby thethe womenwomen..

Distance TraveledDistance TraveledContinuation……Continuation……

The choice of vehicle of the people in the study area depends on the distance traveledThe choice of vehicle of the people in the study area depends on the distance traveled

Type of vehicle Distance (Kilometers)

0- 5 6 -10 11 – 15 16- 20 21 +ypN % N % N % N % N %

Van 134 67.0 91 45.5 16 8.0 3 1.5 0 0.5Nosimon 52 26.0 69 34.5 28 14.0 16 8.0 2 1.0Bicycle 2 1.0 14 7.0 37 18.5 21 10.5 3 1.5Motor cycle 1 0.5 3 1.5 4 2.0 10 5.0 11 5.5Easy bike 7 3.5 9 4.5 22 11.0 17 8.5 3 1.5Easy bike 7 3.5 9 4.5 22 11.0 17 8.5 3 1.5Baby taxi /tempo 2 1.0 1 0.5 30 15.0 22 11.0 7 3.5Bus 2 1.0 13 6.5 63 31.5 111 55.5 174 87.0Total 200 100 200 100 200 100 200 100 200 100

FareFare PaidPaid byby thethe PassengersPassengers BusBus farefare isis thethe lowestlowest andand vanvan hashas thethe secondsecond lowestlowest farefare inin thethe studystudy areaarea

Total 200 100 200 100 200 100 200 100 200 100

yy RentingRenting ofof motorcyclemotorcycle isis thethe mostmost costlycostly vehiclevehicle inin thethe areaarea TheThe perper kilometerkilometer averageaverage farefare ofof thethe vanvan isis BDTBDT 22..3333,, motorcyclemotorcycle BDTBDT 66..6767,, easyeasy bikebike

BDTBDT 22..6060,, babybaby taxi/tempotaxi/tempo BDTBDT 33..3333 andand busbus BDTBDT 11..1010

Continuation……Continuation…… Problems faced by the road usersProblems faced by the road users Problems faced by the road usersProblems faced by the road users

Type of problem faced Frequency % Road Users’ Opinions in Road Users’ Opinions in Improving the Rural Roads Improving the Rural Roads

Too much fare 19 2.69Road in bad condition 159 22.55Too old vehicle 107 15 18

p gp gand Servicesand Services

Type of improvements

Frequency %

Too old vehicle 107 15.18Lack of availability of safe vehicle 98 13.90Too much time spent in journey 55 7.80Absence of passenger shed 47 6 67

Improvement of roads

173 36.4

Availability of f hi l

152 32.0Absence of passenger shed 47 6.67Too narrow roads 101 14.33Too much accident occur 27 3.83Traffic lanes not specified 92 13 05

safe vehicleFixing the fare

35 7.37

Providing 48 10 1Traffic lanes not specified 92 13.05Total 705 100

ProvidingPassenger shed

48 10.1

Involvement of road users

67 14.1Bad road condition (22.6%), too old vehicles

Total 475 100(15.2%), lack of availability of safe vehicles(13.9%) and narrow roads (14.3%) are the majorproblems faced by the users.

Continuation………Continuation………

ProblemProblem FacedFaced byby thethe ServiceService ProvidersProvidersAccordingAccording toto serviceservice providersproviders opinionopinion followingfollowing areare thethe mainmain problemsproblems facedfaced bybythemthem forfor providingproviding serviceservice inin thethe studystudy areaarea

LackLack ofof parkingparking facilitiesfacilities ((1616..5858%%)) RoadRoad inin badbad conditioncondition ((2121..6161%%)) NoNo wellwell maintainedmaintained roadsroads ((1919 1010%%)) NoNo wellwell maintainedmaintained roadsroads ((1919..1010%%)) HarassmentHarassment byby thethe PolicePolice ((1010..5555%%)) TollToll ExtractionExtraction ((1111..5656%%)) TooToo narrownarrow roadsroads ((2020..6060%%))

Road Accidents OccurredRoad Accidents Occurred Bad road and vehicle condition and over crowding of vehicles in the road are Bad road and vehicle condition and over crowding of vehicles in the road are

the main reasons behind road accidentsthe main reasons behind road accidents Large proportion of nonLarge proportion of non--motorized vehicles in the roads causes accidents motorized vehicles in the roads causes accidents

with simple injuries not deathswith simple injuries not deaths there is no system of record keeping on accidents in the study areathere is no system of record keeping on accidents in the study area It is reported that 20 to 25 road accidents occurred each year in the study It is reported that 20 to 25 road accidents occurred each year in the study

area and the rate of accidents is increasingarea and the rate of accidents is increasing

Continuation……Continuation……

Road Length by TypesRoad Length by Types Roads of the study area can be divided into four (4) broad categoriesRoads of the study area can be divided into four (4) broad categories Roads of the study area can be divided into four (4) broad categories Roads of the study area can be divided into four (4) broad categories

Types of roads Length (kilometers )Upazila road 84.473Union road 64.408Village road A 160.64Village road B 253.45

Another classification can be done as concrete paved roads, brick soling (single Another classification can be done as concrete paved roads, brick soling (single soling and double soling) roads and earthen roads soling and double soling) roads and earthen roads

gTotal 562.971

g g)g g) Upazila roads are concrete paved road, union roads are both concrete paved or Upazila roads are concrete paved road, union roads are both concrete paved or

brick soling, village road type A consists both single and double brick soling roads brick soling, village road type A consists both single and double brick soling roads and the village road type B consists earthen and single brick soling roads. and the village road type B consists earthen and single brick soling roads.

Continuation…….Continuation……. InvolvedInvolved OrganizationsOrganizations InvolvedInvolved OrganizationsOrganizationsTheThe followingfollowing areare thethe responsibleresponsible organizationsorganizations forfor roadsroads construction/improvementsconstruction/improvements andandmaintenancemaintenance inin thethe studystudy areaarea:: LGEDLGED:: constructsconstructs roadsroads UpazilaUpazila ParishadParishad:: preparesprepares planplan allocatesallocates andand providesprovides approvalapproval forfor roadroad constructionconstruction UpazilaUpazila ParishadParishad:: preparesprepares plan,plan, allocatesallocates andand providesprovides approvalapproval forfor roadroad constructionconstruction

/improvement/improvement UnionUnion ParishadParishad:: preparesprepares plan,plan, allocatesallocates andand providesprovides approvalapproval forfor roadroad constructionconstruction

/improvement/improvement WaterWater DevelopmentDevelopment BoardBoard:: preparesprepares andand approvesapproves polderspolders whichwhich areare usingusing asas ruralrural roadsroadspp p pp p pppp pp gg NGONGO (Non(Non GovernmentGovernment Organization)Organization):: constructsconstructs roadsroads inin somesome especialespecial casescasesThereThere isis lacklack ofof functionalfunctional cooperationcooperation amongamong thesethese organizationsorganizations bothboth verticallyvertically andand horizontallyhorizontally..NoNo systemsystem hashas yetyet beenbeen developeddeveloped toto involveinvolve thethe locallocal peoplepeople includingincluding thethe roadroad usersusers inin roadroadconstructionconstruction andand roadroad maintenancemaintenance..

Uniqueness of Rural Roads of the Uniqueness of Rural Roads of the Coastal AreasCoastal Areas

Use of polders/embankment as main connecting roadsUse of polders/embankment as main connecting roads Roads are affected by the natural calamitiesRoads are affected by the natural calamities soil condition of earth used for road construction soil condition of earth used for road construction Roads are of roundabout shapedRoads are of roundabout shaped Van is the most used type of vehicle by the poor peopleVan is the most used type of vehicle by the poor people Existence/need too much ferriesExistence/need too much ferries

Use of Polders as roads

Continuation…….Continuation…….

TheThe InitiativesInitiatives ofof thethe GovernmentGovernmentTheThe ruralrural transporttransport policypolicy directionsdirections areare containedcontained inin thethe NationalNational LandLandpp p yp yTransportTransport PolicyPolicy ofof 20042004,, issuedissued byby thethe MinistryMinistry ofof CommunicationCommunication.. TheThe policypolicyobjectivesobjectives areare asas followsfollows:: ProvidingProviding pavedpaved connectionsconnections betweenbetween allall thethe economiceconomic growthgrowth centrescentres andand thethe

co ntr 'sco ntr 's roadroad net orknet orkcountry'scountry's roadroad networknetwork IncreasingIncreasing ruralrural incomesincomes throughthrough useuse ofof labourlabour--basedbased methodsmethods ofof roadsroads constructionconstruction

andand maintenancemaintenance EncouragingEncouraging aa highhigh densitydensity ofof vehiclesvehicles andand technologiestechnologies throughthrough taxtax incentivesincentives CreatingCreating closercloser linkageslinkages betweenbetween ruralrural developmentdevelopment programmesprogrammes andand ruralrural transporttransport ImprovingImproving roadsroads designdesign -- includingincluding segregationsegregation andand gradientgradient bridgesbridges toto reflectreflect thethe

widewide diversitydiversity ofof usersusers

ThTh ii bj ibj i ff hh ll dd i ii i ii d ld l ff ddTheThe mainmain objectivesobjectives ofof thethe ruralrural roadroad connectivityconnectivity isis developmentdevelopment ofof roadroadCommunicationCommunication toto linklink growthgrowth centres,centres, unionunion ParishadParishad headquarters,headquarters, UpazilaUpazilaParishad,Parishad, socialsocial serviceservice institutionsinstitutions likelike schools,schools, andand hospitalshospitals withwith thethe nationalnationalroadroad networknetwork onon aa prioritypriority basisbasis..roadroad networknetwork onon aa prioritypriority basisbasis..

Challenges Encountered and The Way ForwardChallenges Encountered and The Way Forward ChallengesChallenges EncounteredEncountered ThTh WW F dF d ChallengesChallenges EncounteredEncountered

LackLack ofof availabilityavailability ofof landland PresencePresence ofof locallocal conflictconflict inin

prioritizingprioritizing roadsroads forfordevelopmentdevelopment

TheThe WayWay ForwardForward InclusionInclusion ofof thethe problemsproblems andand issuesissues ofof

uniquenessuniqueness ofof thethe ruralrural roadsroads ofof thethe coastalcoastalareasareas inin thethe nationalnational landland transporttransport policypolicy ofof20042004 soso thatthat itit isis beingbeing addressedaddressed asas aa separateseparatedevelopmentdevelopment

ShortageShortage ofof skilledskilled manpowermanpoweratat thethe locallocal governmentgovernmentorganizationorganization levellevel

InadequateInadequate flowflow ofof fundsfunds

20042004 soso thatthat itit isis beingbeing addressedaddressed asas aa separateseparatemattermatter

EnsureEnsure effectiveeffective cooperationcooperation amongamong thethe GOsGOsandand NGOsNGOs currentlycurrently workingworking inin thethe ruralrural roadroadconstruction/improvementconstruction/improvement andand maintenancemaintenancesectorsector

OverloadedOverloaded truckstrucks causingcausingearlyearly damagedamage toto thethepavementpavement

ExistenceExistence ofof numbernumber ofof gapsgapsinin roadroad networknetwork increasingincreasing

sectorsector Involvement/ParticipationInvolvement/Participation ofof ii..ee..,, thethe locallocal peoplepeople

includingincluding roadsroads usersusers andand serviceservice providersproviders ininthethe processprocess ofof ruralrural roadroadconstruction/improvementconstruction/improvement andand maintenancemaintenance sosoasas toto ensureensure governancegovernance inin thethe ruralrural transporttransportinin roadroad networknetwork increasingincreasing

roadroad developmentdevelopment costscosts FrequentFrequent inundationinundation byby floodsfloods

andand otherother naturalnatural calamitiescalamities SoilSoil conditioncondition

asas toto ensureensure governancegovernance inin thethe ruralrural transporttransport NeedNeed forfor preparingpreparing needneed forfor strategicstrategic planplan forfor

eacheach yearyear asas aa shortshort termterm measuremeasure andand aa mastermasterplanplan ofof thethe ruralrural roadsroads inin commensuratecommensurate withwithlandland useuse proposalsproposals asas aa longlong termterm measuremeasure

ArrangeArrange trainingtraining programmesprogrammes forfor capacitycapacitybuildingbuilding ofof thethe manpowermanpower ofof thethe locallocalgovernmentgovernment organizationsorganizations workingworking inin thethe areasareasofof roadroad construction/improvementconstruction/improvement andandmaintenancemaintenance

ConclusionsConclusions

InIn thethe coastalcoastal roadsroads ofof BangladeshBangladesh mostmost ofof thethe peoplepeople useuse brickbrick pavedpaved andand earthenearthenroadsroads;; widthswidths ofof thethe roadsroads areare narrownarrow;; mostmost ofof thethe peoplepeople useuse thethe nonnon--motorizedmotorizedvehiclevehicle locallylocally knownknown vanvan (tricycle)(tricycle);; traveltravel timetime spentspent isis tootoo longerlonger;; vehiclesvehicles pliedplied areareolderolder andand notnot regularlyregularly maintainedmaintained andand asas suchsuch unsafeunsafe toto useuse;; organizationalorganizational rolerole ininthth llll tt ff thth ll t tt t ii tt ti f tti f t dd thth ’’thethe overalloverall managementmanagement ofof thethe ruralrural transporttransport isis notnot satisfactorysatisfactory;; andand thethe users’users’participationparticipation inin construction,construction, improvementimprovement andand maintenancemaintenance ofof roadsroads isis notnot muchmuchsignificantsignificant..

TheThe nationalnational landland transporttransport policypolicy ofof 20042004 doesdoes notnot adequatelyadequately addressaddress allall thesetheseissuesissues andand problemsproblems pertinentpertinent toto thethe ruralrural roadsroadsissuesissues andand problemsproblems pertinentpertinent toto thethe ruralrural roadsroads..

ThereThere areare goodgood examplesexamples ofof involvementinvolvement ofof thethe locallocal peoplepeople inin ruralrural roadroadmaintenancemaintenance inin BangladeshBangladesh inin termsterms ofof roadroad sideside treetree plantationplantation developeddeveloped bybyLGEDLGED.. TheThe lessonslessons learntlearnt fromfrom thisthis typetype ofof programmeprogramme andand otherother innovativeinnovativeinitiativesinitiatives areare toto bebe upheldupheld andand sustainedsustainedinitiativesinitiatives areare toto bebe upheldupheld andand sustainedsustained..

ItIt isis alsoalso toto bebe agreedagreed byby allall concernsconcerns thatthat nono singlesingle suggestionsuggestion oror actionaction cancan solvesolvethethe problemproblem ofof ruralrural roadsroads ofof thethe coastalcoastal areasareas butbut therethere isis urgenturgent needneed forfor holisticholisticapproachapproach toto addressaddress thethe subjectsubject problemproblem andand issueissue..

AboveAbove all,all, allall concertedconcerted effortsefforts areare toto bebe mademade toto ensureensure governancegovernance inin thethe ruralruraltransporttransport soso thatthat thethe concernsconcerns ofof thethe ruralrural poorpoor peoplepeople areare includedincluded andand addressedaddressedwhowho areare thethe mostmost endend user’suser’s ofof ruralrural roadsroads..

LetLet allall actorsactors bebe involvedinvolved therethere andand letlet therethere bebe developmentdevelopment ofof sensesense ofof ownershipownershipthatthat roadsroads belongbelong toto themthem.. And,And, eventuallyeventually allall concernedconcerned peoplepeople andand organizationsorganizationswillwill workwork forfor theirtheir ownown thingsthings..

Thanks …….Thanks …….

Dr. Md. Ghulam Murtaza, ProfessorDr. Md. Ghulam Murtaza, Professoremail: smgmurtaza@gmail comemail: smgmurtaza@gmail comemail: smgmurtaza@gmail.comemail: smgmurtaza@gmail.com

andand

Maitry Biswas, LecturerMaitry Biswas, Lectureremail: maitry 04@yahoo comemail: maitry 04@yahoo comemail: maitry_04@yahoo.comemail: maitry_04@yahoo.com

Urban & Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University,Urban & Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University,Khulna 9208, BangladeshKhulna 9208, Bangladesh