The ongoing revised project of the Sylhet-Companiganj-Bholaganj Highway costing Tk626.92 crore, considered as one of the most extravagant project of the country, is raising questions, as unusual cracks and fissures are appearing on the surface even before the completion of the highway.
According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the Ecnec approved project styled “Improvement of Airport bypass intersection-Lalbag-Salutikor-Companiganj-Bholaganj road as a national highway” on April 7, 2015 fixing the cost at Tk 626.92 crore, out of which Tk 458.63 crore has already been spent.
A renowned construction company of the country, Spectra Engineers Limited promised to complete the project by the end of 2019, with the 100ft crack in the road beside Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park area, the project is now raising eyebrows among locals. They alleged that the construction company has used low grade materials which is causing the thoroughfare to crack, and falter.
On a field visit, it was seen that the approach road to the highway was also showing major cracks, much like the highway itself.
Wishing anonymity, a construction worker said, the construction company is covering up the cracks with soil so that fingers cannot be raised against the work done by the company.
When asked about the issue, Sub Divisional Engineer Mohammad Anisur Rahman said, the cracks are caused by a sudden shifting of the soil beneath the highway as the water level of the particular area is lower than other areas thus causing the soil beneath to give way.
He said: "We are perfectly aware of the situation, and the construction company is bound to repair the damage at any cost before handing over the project to us.
"Construction of 28 kilometers of the road is complete, and we expect the construction work to end by June next year," he added.
The construction company, Spectra Engineers Limited's Project Manager (PM), Engineer Abu Hanif blamed the two canals encompassing the road, causing the clay not to bond.
He assured that they are in contract with the RHD, in any event, to oversee any problems associated with the highway for two years after the handover. He said: "We only covered up the crack with soil to avoid accidents of speedy vehicles plying on the highway."
Locals expressed their disgust over the matter, and said they got the highway project running through countless demonstration, and writing letters to the authorities. Therefore it is frustrating to encompass the damage so soon.
