Frequent potholes make Barisal-Dhaka highway risky

Such potholes appearing in a large portion of Barisal-Dhaka highway in Barisal district during the ongoing monsoon make vehicular movement a tough job. The photo was taken from near Gournadi upazila headquarters in the district. PHOTO: STAR

Barisal-Dhaka highway has turned risky for vehicular movement as numerous potholes and ditches have appeared during the ongoing monsoon.     
The 13-kilometre road from Barisal to Rahmatpur and 27-kilometre from Joysri to Bhurghata on the highway have many big potholes and ditches, said Matiar Rahman, a truck driver plying the route.
Vehicles often face accidents and get stranded following mechanical problems due to the awful condition of the roads on the highway, said bus driver Harun Mia.
Although proper maintenances and necessary repair works on the roads in Madaripur and Faridpur districts are regularly done, the parts under Barisal district remain ignored, and it causes damage to vehicles and goods and puts lives of passengers and workers under risk, said Mohibullah of road transport owners association.
However Khalid Shahed, executive engineer of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Barisal, said repair works of the portion under Barisal road division has already started and the potholes will be filled up if the rain does not disturb.