A large portion of the Raipur-Haidarganj Road constructed by Local Government Engineering Department (LGRD) has turned into dilapidated condition surprisingly within one year passed after the completion of its repair works.
According to local sources, around 11 kilometer of the road worsen in a short time as gigantic potholes developed at major points.
The road is very important to locals as it has connected Lakshmipur and Noakhali districts through Raipur-Haidarganj and Haimchar-Charbhoirabi.
A total of five primary schools, two secondary schools, two madrsas, two colleges, a health centre and a family planning office are situated beside the road.
The students of schools and colleges and officers of the institutions alleged that they have to face very hazardous situation on the way due to dilapidated situation of the road.
They claimed the drivers charged money double from them taking the opportunity of the dire situation.
A trucker named Mofizuddin said: “The road is very important to go to other parts of the country from the district town. We have been compelled to use the road amid great danger.”
A bus driver namely Murad Hossain said: “Let alone potholes, even we cannot properly see the vehicles come from opposite direction owing to the dense dust. The road costs around two hours to cross a distance of 20-minute. The road’s sorry state damage machinery and tyres of our vehicles and many people become victim of accident there as well.”
Locals alleged that asphalt and gravel started getting loose just some days after the end of the carpeting and since then its condition on the track of worsening in course of time.
As a result, major and minor accidents became prevalent on the road, even many of them were fatal. During plying, drivers struggle to keep the control over their vehicles.
Some passengers opined that they used to face dense hazardous dust and intolerable shaking during passing the road.
According to the local residents, the road also breaks the cars, which may cause accidents. Many people think that this road section needs capital repairs.
The upazila engineering department was supposed to repair the road at Tk6 lakh last year. But the work has not been done yet for unknown reason.
Alamgir Mazhi, chairman of Dakhinchar Ababil union council, said: “I have requested local MP and the LGRD men several times to repair the road. But no steps have been taken yet in this regard.”
LGRD Engineer Md Akter Hossain said a project of Tk10 crore had been taken to repair the road.
The work would start soon, he said.
