Tourists are suffering for lack of bus stand in Kuakata

Bus stand under construction in Kuakata

Patuakhali: Standing at the same spot and observing the attractive natural scenery of sunrise and sunset, the fame of Kuakata, a tourist center, has now crossed the borders of the country and reached the international arena. Besides, thousands of tourists are coming to Kuakata every day since the inauguration of Padma Bridge. However, as there is no bus terminal, the tourists are suffering from the parking of Kuakata route buses, minibuses, long route coaches along with the vehicles carrying tourists.

According to sources, two years after the declaration of Kuakata as a tourist center, the construction work of this bus terminal started on a 6-acre land at a place called Tulatali, adjacent to the Kuakata-Patuakhali highway. As the work has started, Kuakata will be free of traffic jam, the common people including tourists feel relieved. But in September 2021, the construction work of the bus terminal started at a cost of Tk 13 crore 6 lakh. As the construction

work of the bus terminal has not been completed even after 19 months, anger and suffering is increasing among locals and tourists.

It is known that some parts of sand filling, boundary wall, drain construction are done at a fast pace at the beginning of the work.

After that, the construction work of this important bus stand was stopped for a long time. As a result, many tourists arriving in Kuakata and hundreds of cars traveling from Kuakata to different

districts of the country are suffering from parking everywhere. To reduce the traffic congestion, the municipal authorities have temporarily arranged car parking in the open fields on the side of the road, even though the temporary traffic jam is free, the suffering is not leaving behind. Tourists have to park their cars on the highway again during the drizzling of the last two days.

According to municipal sources, a contractor named M/s Gias Uddin of Patuakhali was given the responsibility of constructing this work in two packages. Although the sand filling work of the first package has been completed, several works of wall construction are still left. And some of the drain works under the scope of the second package and the beige and pen work of the building have been completed, but all the surface works including the roof are still left. Apart from this, all the works of footpath, parking and green zone are left.

The source also said that the first term of this job ends on June 22. Later the second term was extended till June 23. Even after 7-8 months of extension, the local parliament members and the municipal mayor started putting pressure on the contractor as there was no progress in the work. However, the contractor says that the delay in completion of the work is not due to negligence but due to problems related to the bus stand.

Neelima Hamid, a tourist who came to Kuakata from Kushtia, said, We came to Kuakata for a visit. There will be a bus stand if nothing else. We were dropped 2 km away as there were hundreds of vehicles on both sides of the road. I will not come to Kuakata again if this suffering does not subside.

Tour Operators Association of Kuakata (TOWAC) President Ruman Imtiaz Tushar said that after the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, tourists are increasing several times than before. As a result, traffic jams grind to a halt. And although the work of the bus stand has started, the work is slow due to the negligence of the authorities. This bus stand is essential for Kuakata. If this is not resolved soon, this influx of tourists may stop. Tourism sector of the country will lose huge revenue.

Kuakata Municipality Mayor Anwar Hawladar said that immediately after the work started, the contractor was asked to complete the bus stand in last 2022. But suddenly the contractor's work was stopped for a few days, so we put pressure on the contractor with the help of Deputy Commissioner, District Awami League President so that we can go for the inauguration by the month of June this year.

He also said that the work is being delayed only because of the negligence of the contractor. We have no financial or administrative problems.

The owner of the contracting company M/s Gias Uddin, Md. Ghiyas Uddin said, the bus stand work is not being delayed due to negligence, but we are getting delayed due to several reasons including land acquisition problems and sand lease ban. But now more goods are being taken and work is being done at a faster pace by increasing manpower.

Hopefully I can finish the work by the first week of April this year. In this regard, the local member of parliament Principal Md. Mohibur Rahman said that the realization of the dream of the honorable Prime Minister is moving forward at a fast pace today. In continuation of that, the work of the bus stand has started, but it is getting a little slow. However, in this regard, I, the Deputy Commissioner, held a meeting in coordination with the municipality and asked the

contractor to complete the work quickly. They have given us the promise that after the 30th of this March we can go for the inauguration. - Gofran Biswas Palash