A large portion of Newmarket-Munshiganj Road has turned into dilapidated condition surprisingly within one year after the completion of its repair works.
Around 64 kilometres of the road became unfit for vehicular movement, as gigantic potholes developed at major points.
Firoz Hossain, an auto rickshaw driver, said road accident was the common incident on the road as potholes had developed here and there.
“When it rains, it can be difficult to locate the potholes as it goes under water. So guru-some accidents occur during rainy season,” he said.
A total of 20 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, seven 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 alleged that 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 road City College to Satkhira Medical College became unfit for vehicle as the bricks had been washed way with rain water.
27 kilometer path on the Nalta-Shyamnagar Road got damaged due to recent rain and the concern authorities have not taken steps to repair it, alleged locals.
The same situation is of 22 kilometer way of the Satkhira-Ashasuni Road.
Though many tourist centres including Eco-tourism were built up in Shyamnagar area, the tourists are not interested to visit the area due to dilapidated situation of the roads.
Pijush Bawlia, who is working on Sundarbans, said hundred of tourists came to visit Shamnagr Zamindar Bari and the Jahajghata of Raja Protipadhitha. But they express their dissatisfaction about the journey.
Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway Manzurul Karim said the roads in the district got damaged due to recent torrential rain.
A project of Tk16 crore had been sanctioned to repair the roads, he added.
Deputy Commissioner Abul Kashem said a budget had been declared for 2016-2017 fiscal year to repair the damaged roads in the district.
Repair work of the roads would be started after rainy season, he added.
