Woeful journey on damaged roads

People of twenty villages in four unions of Sadar upazila have been suffering for the last eight years due to the badly damaged Mitora-Barundi road.

Potholes have developed on five kilometres of the seven-kilometre-long road as it has not been repaired during this long time.   

The seven-kilometres-long Mitora-Barundi road in Betila-Mitora and Hatipara unions of Sadar upazila is under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

While visiting the areas on Saturday, this correspondent found that most of the five kilometre road from Mitora to Kaliakair is dilapidated. Big holes filled with rainwater were seen at different places in Kaitara, Salundi and Bara-Kaliakair villages.

Passengers of three-wheelers like 'easy-bikes' and 'tempos' have to cross the holes on foot, while the vehicles cross empty. However, the condition of the two kilometre road from Kaliakair to Barundi is good.

Bimal Roy, of Kaitara village and an employee of a non-governmental organisation, said the condition of the road has worsened this year due to recent heavy rainfall. People of at least 20 villages in Betila-Mitora, Putail and Hatipara unions are suffering due to this.

There are big markets and business establishments in Kaliyat and Bara-Kaliakair areas along the road, but the traders have great difficulty bringing goods to these markets, he said.

Easy-bike driver Selim Mia said the number of passengers is increasing ahead of Eid, but the number of trips is decreasing as he has to drive slowly because of the holes on the road.

Another easy-bike driver Md Mohosin said his vehicle was damaged in a few days due to the shaking caused by the potholed road.

Grocery shop owner Sekandar Ali of Kaitara bazar said traders have to pay extra for bringing goods through the dilapidated road.

Farmer Kalu Molla of Barundi village said farmers are also suffering while taking their crops to the haats and bazars.

Betila-Mitora Union Parishad Chairman Nasir uddin said he and some brick-kiln owners filled the holes on the road with broken bricks, but the holes were created again within a few days due to movement of vehicles.

He said he told the upazila coordination meeting about the dilapidated condition of the road several times, but the authorities did not take any initiative to repair the badly damaged road.

LGED Sadar Upazila Engineer Zahidul Islam said he had submitted a proposal for repair work of the road, but it was not approved. “We hope it will be approved next year,” he said.

Sukamal Dey Debesh, proprietor of Debesh Traders, said he did the carpeting work of the road seven to eight years ago and completed it properly.