27 electric poles delaying road renovation at Syedpur

SYEDPUR, NILPHAMARI, Nov 14: Road renovation work in the Syedpur town has been stalled due to 27 electric poles along Sher-e-Bangla Road, causing traffic congestion and hardship for residents, commuters and local businesses.

Syedpur Municipality launched a 7-kilometer road renovation project on October 19, 2025, covering Sher-e-Bangla Road and Shaheed Zahurul Haque Road. 

Funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank under the Resilient Urban and Territorial Project (RUTP), the project costs Tk 25.75 crore and is scheduled for completion by January 2027.

The first 600 metres of both roads are being constructed with reinforced concrete, while the remaining 2,900 metres are to be asphalted.

The contract was awarded to MA-KE-SB-JV, with Shammi Builders of Rangpur carrying out the work. However, progress remains below 50%, according to project-related information.

Tuhin, a representative of the contracting firm, said 27 electric poles between Tamanna intersection and WAPDA intersection are preventing work on widened sections of Sher-e-Bangla Road. The poles, including 10 steel and 17 concrete structures, carry 11,000-volt power lines.

“We have already paid Tk 23 lakh to the electricity department to relocate the poles. Their failure to do so has prevented us from completing the work on time,” Tuhin said, adding that the delay was causing financial losses.

Md Alimul Islam Selim, Executive Engineer of the Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) in Syedpur, said the municipality paid Tk 22.93 lakh on September 8. A contractor, M/S Sumi Enterprise of Dinajpur, has been hired to relocate the poles.

He said underground water and telephone lines have complicated the work, but all poles are expected to be relocated by December.

Bappi Chakraborty, proprietor of Sumi Enterprise, said the company is also waiting for concrete poles from Bogura. The firm signed a Tk 5,01,270 contract with NESCO for the work.

Municipal Executive Engineer Md Ayub Ali said the delay was disrupting traffic and urged NESCO to complete the relocation promptly.

Sher-e-Bangla Road is the main direct route into Syedpur from the district headquarters. Partially completed concrete sections and stretches covered with crushed stone have narrowed the road, causing severe congestion.

Pedestrians, auto-rickshaw and CNG drivers, traders and air travellers are among those affected. Local traders say delays in reaching their businesses are causing financial losses, while some passengers have reportedly missed flights because of traffic jams.