A fairytale of road repair work in Kushtia

Parts of Kushtia-Rajbari regional highway cave in twice in 8 months

FE Team | Published: November 21, 2021 21:40:47

KUSHTIA, Nov 21 (UNB): Though road-construction cost in Bangladesh is the highest in the world, durable roads are hardly constructed here. The Kushtia-Rajbari regional highway which turned unfit twice within eight months of renovation is not an exception.
A portion of Kushtia-Rajbari regional highway, which was renovated barely eight months back has caved in at Golchattar near Kumarkhali bus stand for the second time, disrupting vehicular movement and raising the risk of accidents.
Local people alleged that they are facing much trouble every day while crossing the road.
The regional highway was reconstructed eight months back and a portion of the road at Gol Chattar caved in on June 20 and it was then reconstructed. But again, another portion of the road collapsed again, making it unfit for vehicular movement, they said.
The poor condition of the busy road raised questions about the quality of the work.
Thousands of buses, trucks, private vehicles and other modes of vehicles use the road every day and the broken road has posed a great risk to both pedestrians and transports.
Councillor of Ward No 5 of Kumarkhali municipality SM Rafiq said, "The road is being damaged frequently due to use of substandard materials in road construction and renovation work".
"The road is under the jurisdiction of the Roads and Highways Department and so the municipality authority has nothing to do with it," he said.
Sources at the Roads and Highways Department said Johurul Islam construction of Meherpur reconstructed the road involving Tk 1.9 billion (190 crore) eight months back.
Local people alleged that some workers died and some got hurt after the collapse of a roof of Kushtia Medical College recently and it was constructed by Johurul Islam Constructions but the controversial contractor firm is getting different work orders one after another due to unknown reasons.
Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Md Shakirul Islam said, "We will soon take steps to renovate the damaged portion of the road".