Kushtia bypass opens today

Long-desired Kushtia town bypass awaits inauguration. The photo was taken at Bottail in Kushtia Sadar upazila a few days ago. Photo: Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the long-desired Kushtia town bypass to traffic today through a video conference. 

A total of Tk 109.60 crore has been spent to construct the 6.60km road which will run from Bottail to Barkhada. Construction work of the road began in 2016.

At least 55.16 acres of land at six villages in Kushtia Sadar upazila were requisitioned for the purpose.

Two PC bridges and 20 culverts have also been built along the road which would relieve Kushtia town of heavy traffic congestion due to the Kushtia-Khulna highway that goes through the heart of the town. This highway is currently the only road link between the southwestern and northern regions.

The people had been demanding construction of a bypass, but no government ever took the initiative to do so though foundation stone to construct the road was laid in 22 years ago.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in 2015 approved the Kushtia Bypass Road project involving Tk 73 crore.

“It was our prime demand to construct the bypass for long. We thank the government as it has completed the work,” said businessman Ajoy Sureka.

The people from all walks of life including students and patients in the town had been forcing to negotiate heavy traffic on their way to destinations for long.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, also local lawmaker, said it was a commitment made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Kushtia in 2013.

Hanif said the people of the southwest and the northern regions would be benefited greatly by the bypass.