Dilapidated road makes life difficult
A portion of Chittagong-Hathazari Road from Oxygen intersection to Baluchara has remained dilapidated for long, but the authorities have turned a blind eye to the woes of road users.Photo: STAR
Half a kilometre of the busy Chittagong-Hathazari road connecting two hill districts and several upazilas with the port city has remained dilapidated for months, causing suffering to thousands of people.
The road connects Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts and Raozan, Hathazari and Fatikchhari upazilas, Chittagong University, Najirhat, Maikchhari, Ramgarh and Mohalchhari with Chittagong city.
Around six and a half kilometres of the road from Oxygen intersection have become dilapidated but the condition of half kilometre area from Oxygen to Battal has deteriorated further.
Leaving the part uncared for for over one and a half years by the authorities concerned, including Roads and Highways, and huge pressure of traffic and rainfall contributed much to deteriorating the road, turning it from bad to worse.
Due to heavy rainfall, waterlogging and lack of proper maintenance by the authorities concerned a number of cracks and potholes developed on this part of the busy road.
The bus passengers who travel to some 22 destinations everyday from the Oxygen bus terminal are the most sufferers.
Local traders also face difficulty in carrying goods in rickshaw vans through the road.
Zahir, a trader, said they are to suffer a lot to carry goods to the market.
Sumana Azad, a student of Cantonment College, crosses the road twice a day to reach her college from her residence at Baluchhara. She said the road has become unusable and she is to use the road finding no other option.
The vehicles get stuck in a gridlock on the road sometimes throughout the day since they need to ply slowly and take much time due to dilapidated condition of the road.
Parvez, a local resident who often commutes the road on his way to work, said he tries to keep his balance with much difficulty while passing the rough road on a bus or human hauler.
Milton, another resident, said he often gets down from rickshaw while cross the road, risking accident. During the rains the situation gets tougher, he added.
Jamal, a rickshawpuller, said he needs double energy than usual to pull rickshaw through the road.
Locals blamed irregularities in the repair work that was done around one and half years ago.
They alleged that only after seven days of the repair work potholes developed on different places of the road.
Md Shahnewaj, executive engineer of Roads and Highways, said he has no idea about any irregularities.
He said a private organisation on contract started the renovation work including Double Surface Treatment (DBST) with carpeting on around six and half kilometres road from Oxygen intersection early this year.
He said after completion of work of two kilometres of the road they were forced to stop the work due to rainy season.
He, however, said the work will resume soon. According to the contract the firm will do carpeting and DBST on the most dilapidated parts after filing up potholes while it would do DBST on the six and half kilometres road.
He said the repair work will be completed within one month.
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