Kuakata road in bad shape

Around half of the 22 kilometre road from Kalapara upazila town to Kuakata has become virtually unfit for vehicular movement as numerous potholes have developed on it from Pakhimara Bazar to Mohipur fish landing station.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) cannot take steps to repair the road as a court delivered 'stay-order' three years ago after a bidder filed a case over the road.

Sub-assistant Engineer of RHD Md Humayun Kabir said Rupsha Engineers Limited, a construction firm, rebuilt the11km road from Pakhimara Bazar to Mohipur in 2009-10 fiscal year at a cost of around Tk 7 crore. RHD stopped the final payment to the firm, alleging low quality of work.

Later on, two high level probe bodies of the RHD separately visited the spot and found the allegation was true. Md Rashidul Islam, representative of the firm, filed a civil suit with a Patuakhali court in 2014, which ordered stoppage of all work on the road until final judgment of the case. The road has not been repaired or renovated since then, Humayun added.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw countless potholes filled with water on the road, with hundreds of vehicles using it in spite of the condition.

Locals said over 200 metres of the road from Alipur fish landing station to approach road of Sheikh Russel Bridge has also became unfit to use due to lack of repair.

“We are facing serious problems in transporting fish to different places across the country, including the capital Dhaka, as trucks, pick-ups and other vehicles can't run smoothly on the road,” said President of Alipur Fish Warehouse Owners' Association

 Ansar Uddin Mollah.

President of Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners' Association Md Shafiqur Rahman Chan said the number of tourists has increased recently as all three bridges on Kalapara-Kuakata road have been opened.

The authorities concerned should take immediate steps to repair the road considering the comfort of tourists from both home and abroad, he added.

Executive Engineer RHD Mir Nizamuddin said the damaged road from Alipur to Sheikh Russel bridge approach road would be taken under a 'minor periodic maintenance' programme very soon.

They will take immediate steps to repair the road after withdrawal of the stay order, Nizamuddin added.