Tk 34.5b needed to repair Sylhet flood-hit roads

SYLHET, JULY 24: Recent floods triggered by heavy rains have left the road communication system devastated in Sylhet region.
Potholes and cracks have developed on many places of the roads across the district, causing immense sufferings to the commuters and pedestrians.
Even in many places, roads, bridges and culverts have been washed away by the floodwaters. As the innumerable cracks and potholes have developed on the roads, women and children are struggling to move on it. Almost the same situation is prevailing in the Sylhet city area.
Officials of the Roads and Highways Department, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) and LGED said a total of Tk 34.55 billion will be required to make the damaged roads usable for vehicular movement. The authorities have already sent reports detailing the amount of loss due to damaged roads and sought necessary fund for repair and maintenance of all roads as soon as possible, sources informed.
Meanwhile, businesses activities in the region have yet to become normal due to the fragile road communications in the whole region, alleged business leaders. Even during the Eid the region's tourist spots could not attract a good number of holidaymakers.
Locals said due to lack of proper communication, the tourists can't travel to the important spots like Ratargul, Bisnakandi, Jafflong, etc, as the Gowainghat-Hadarpar road, Gowainghat-Doubari Road and Gowainghat-Radhanagar Road are in bad shape as yet. The small traders linked to the tourism sector are the worst sufferers.
Many roads are still submerged in some places until now while roads connecting upazila town and villages have become snapped. Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Mustafizur Rahman said some roads in Beanibazar upazila are still under water as yet while in many places of the roads, big potholes have developed on its surfaces. The road communication with rural areas are the worst. Parts of roads have already been washed away at places.
LGED officials said 24 rural roads spanning 621 kilometers in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj district have got damaged, which would require Tk 3.5 billion. Jogonnathpur upazila of the same district needs Tk 1.4 billion for repairing 180km stretches on 84 roads.
In some places, Roads and Highways Department made temporary arrangements to repair on the roads with sand and bricks for temporary restoration of communication network. But the roads are still unfit for movement for vehicles.
SCC officials said stretches of 186 km of roads in the city have been damaged badly, Besides, 97 km drains, one km retaining wall, 60 km footpath and 82 km water supply line are in bad shape, while concrete and Asphalt roads have either got damaged or been washed away in some places.
SCC Chief Engineer Nur Azizur Rahman said Tk 3.28 billion will be required for repairing the roads. Already the ministry of Local Government has been requested for allocation of the amount to repair the damaged roads and others, he added.
Officials of Roads and Highways Department, and LGED also said more than 1600 km roads in the Sylhet district had been damaged in addition to bridges and culverts.
Boro crops in Sunamganj were first hit hard by floods in Sylhet in late April and Sunamganj in May. The devastating floods then hit the total region in June. Subsequently, the prolonged floods battered the communication system of the region as a whole. Although the water receded from most of the areas, some were still under water.
LGED officials also said 2431 km of roads in the 4 districts of the region have been damaged and they will require Tk 20.54 billion for reconstructing or repairing those. Besides, TK 730 million will be required to repair 2596 metre damaged bridges.
On the other hand, Floods destroyed 166 km on the 17 important roads of Roads and Highways Department. Among the roads, Sari-Gowainghat and Darbast-Kanaighat roads are the worst ones.