17 km road in sorry state for three years
Khagdi-Sreenagar-Takerhat road in Madaripur Sadar upazila lies in an awful state for three years, causing immense sufferings to passengers.
An official of Madaripur Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) said the 17-km-long road was repaired at a cost of Tk 2.70 crore in 2014-15 fiscal years.
Thousands of people, including students of different institutions in Rajor and Shibchar upazilas, use the road to reach their destination, but the dilapidated condition of the road makes their journey extremely painful.
Especially critical patients and schoolchildren are the worst sufferers due to the bad condition of the road.
The road has become almost unfit for vehicular movement due to lack of renovation for three years, said local people.
During a recent visit, this correspondent saw a number of potholes on the road, which has become muddy in many places from Khgdi- Charmuguria- Housedi area.
Torikul Islam, 20, a student of Madaripur Technical Training Institution, said thousands of people from different villages in the two upazilas use the road every day to reach the district headquarters.
They are suffering a lot as there is no alternative road to go to their institution, said Torikul, adding that sometime they have to spend extra money for transportation due to the awful condition of the road.
Sasud Sarkar, 32, a resident of Housedi area in Sadar upazila, said accidents occur on the road almost every day.
A good number of vehicle owners have stopped plying the road to avoid accidents, he said, adding that a number of large potholes have developed on the road. The road has been lying in such awful condition for the last three years.
Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to repair the road, said Sasud.
Mujibur Rahman, an easy-bike driver, said vehicles cannot move smoothly on the road due to potholes. Besides, mud covers the road during rains. Vehicles often get damaged while plying the road with potholes.
Madaripur LGED Executive Engineer Babul Aktar said the repair as well as expansion on both sides of the road will start soon.
They are filling the potholes with brick and sand, said the engineer.