Bitumen cover coming off at five kilometre stretch

BENAPOLE, Aug 26: A five kilometre stretch of the Jashore-Khulna highway in Benapole has become impassable with the bitumen cover starting to come off and potholes developing in its various places.

Several thousand vehicles cross the Nawapara industrial belt stretch of the highway every day which has utmost importance in the southern region of the country.

Bitumen cover including stones has come off and potholes developed as well in various parts of the road stretch making vehicular movement difficult and risky there. And for this dep-lorable condition of the road stretch, common people are the worst sufferers.

Local residents feel that if necessary repair work is not done immediately, there might occur big accidents at any time taking human lives.

Drivers and passengers complained that crossing the road stretch also filled with big potholes means undergoing extreme sufferings.

Contacted, Golam Kibria, executive engineer of the Roads and Highways Department, Jashore, told the FE that the repair work would start after the end of the rainy season.

In Nawapara portion of the Jashore-Khulna highway- from Rajghat to Bhangagate- numerous small and large potholes have been created, he said.

And the condition of Noorbagh area of Nawapara Market is the worst, due to which accidents are happening every day.

Some holes are so deep that even three-wheelers can overturn.

Mohammad Hasan, a truck driver from Guakhola village, said, "I have six trucks. As a driver, I feel it very risky crossing the Noorbagh area. Just as time is wasted in crossing the 5km road, so parts also get damaged."

"There are big holes on the highway. If repair work is not done soon, vehicles will become unfit," he added.

Khandkar Sikendar, driver of Garai Paribahan of Kushtia, said the important highway of the country is in such a bad condition despite repeated repair works.

Contractor firms in collusion with corrupt officials used substandard materials in repair and construction works of the road, he added.

They pocketed crores of taka this way leaving the road in such a bad shape.

Consequently, passengers and pedestrians are facing endless sufferings. As there is no footpath beside, pedestrian movement creates traffic jam on the road taking hours for vehicles to cross the 5 km stretch sometimes.

Local residents said it is most risky to travel on the highway from Rajghat to Bhangagate. If it rains a little, water accumulates in the holes.

When vehicles move, water from the holes spreads to commercial establishments and residential buildings. So repair work on the 5 km road stretch full of holes needs to be immediately done.

Golam Kibria, executive engineer of the Roads and Highway Department, Jashore, said, " I am aware of the problem at Nawapara on the Jashore-Khulna highway. The contractor has been instructed to do the repair work. The rainy season is delaying the start of the repair work. Hopefully, the work will start after the rainy season ends."

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