Locals urge authority to complete work on Derai-Shulla road soon
Our Correspondent | Tuesday, 30 October 2018
SYLHET, Oct 29: Work on the much desired Tk 1.19 billion Derai-Shulla road couldn't be completed even in eight years.
Moreover, at least four points on the half-done portion of it have already gone damaged.
Riverine Shulla and Derai upazilas are considered as the most backward in the district due to its poor road-link and others.
In line with the Prime Minister's announcement at a public rally in Sunamganj in 2010 for setting road link from Derai to Habiganj via Shulla, the work for establishing 19 km road-link from Derai upazila to Shulla started in 2011.
The expenditure was set at Tk 1.19 billion while six contractors were awarded the job, but they failed to do much as yet.
Besides, the earthen road went damaged on at least four points meantime due to strong pressure of haor waters on both sides.
The concrete blocks set for protection on many points of the road also went collapsed while none of the approaches of three bridges are established as yet.
Besides, there is no soil on any of approaches on the 17 culverts.
However, many of the locals had been opposing construction of a number of culvert and a bridge on the road. They feel these are either unnecessary or constructed on faulty design.
A man said the under construction road had already gone narrow on many places due to erosion on both sides. Locals can't even walk on foot through the road, they alleged.
The bridge and culverts had been constructed less height as small boats can't pass through under those. The whole area is low lying where boat is the only means of internal transportation. Culverts are constructed unnecessarily at some points, he alleged.
An official in the Roads and Highways Department said, 'It is a part of the Prime Minister's commitment programme. We had done some works, but it is hard to work in such the low-lying area."
The Bangladesh River Research Institute has been working on a detailed project for the road for its protected construction.
“We would implement the project in line with that through approval from the Planning Commission”, he added.