Our Correspondent
SYLHET, July 14: The authorities couldn't yet start works on the much-desired project for expansion of the Sylhet-Sunamganj road even after repeated attempts and litigation between groups.
Number of accidents had gone up on the narrow road while sufferings of the people of the region had gone extreme due to rise in the number of plying bus, truck and other vehicles on the road, which connects the vast haor region with the divisional city of the Sylhet as well as the capital city in the recent years.
The Roads & Highways (R&H) took up the Tk 800 million project for expansion of the 18-feet wide road to a 24-feet one 2 years ago.
But things didn't proceed much even after floating bids and cancellation of those due to litigation between contractors and the department during the last 2 years. The concerned officials also couldn't say anything when the works would be started.
Meanwhile, the transport owners association and workers groups staged human chain and held rallies repeatedly at the Sunamganj district town for starting the road expansion works, but to effect as yet. They also handed over memo to the district administration on occasions to press the demand.
Due to the pitiable state of the narrow road, often it takes 2 and a half an hour in place of one and a half an hour to reach 68 km from Sylhet from Sunamganj.
As the project was approved at a meeting of the ECNEC in 2016, the R & H called bid, which was cancelled subsequently from its head office. A contractor sued against the second bidding in the high court. As it was cleared months ago, the authority again called tender, which is awaiting approval from the head office.
At places two passenger buses can't pass each other due to narrow space while illegally-set shops on places like Jawa bazaar, Pagla bazaar and Govindaganj bazaar causing much for the passengers and passers-by in general. Often traffic congestion causes another problem for the common men.
Meanwhile 11 small bridges out 12 had already been rebuilt last year on the important road, said Habibur Rahman of Derai upazila. But, delay in the expansion of the road is causing much for the people of the district, he said.
Due to the narrowness, the buses have to run slow, said a trader Anwar Hossain of Sunamganj adding, we want the government to start works immediately.
An official in the R&H said a fresh tender had been sent to the higher authority. It is now on the process of approval from the concerned ministry, he added. However, he couldn't ascertain when works could be started.
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