Most Barisal divn roads badly damaged
Most of the national and regional highways in Barisal division have become too risky for vehicular movement due to lack of width and damage by overloaded traffic.
Executive Engineer (Barisal) of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Shah Muhammad Shams Mokaddas said, "There are 83.5 kilometres of national highway, 24.5 km of regional highways, and 239.86 km of district roads under this division."
Among them 48-km highway connects the total Barisal division with Dhaka and other parts of the country via Faridpur district.
"Major parts of all these highways and roads are badly damaged. Being only 18-feet wide they are too narrow for proper traffic flow. Moreover, two-thirds of the 48-km road is in a very bad shape", he added.
"Even after spending Tk 10 crore for maintenance over the past four months, the condition of these roads is still very dangerous at Mahilara, Torki, Batajor, Sanuhar and Gournadi," said Shams.
"Further Tk 5.76 crore has been sanctioned under emergency rehabilitation programme for this highway and work would start as soon as monsoons stop", he said.
"Moreover, the highways immediately need to be widened to at least 24 feet keeping similarity with other highways in the country and they must be repaired with double bituminous surface treatment", he said.
"Heavy rain in monsoon, mindless roadside tree plantation, construction of roads without estimating traffic and load, lack of space for future expansion, operating heavy transport without considering load capacity of the roads are major reasons behind fast deterioration of the roads", he observed.
Most of the district roads connecting Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali and Kuakata tourist zone with other parts of the country via Barisal are now hazardous for travelling, according to commuters.
It takes hours to cover these short distances while road communication is often disrupted due to break down of vehicles.
Major portions of 45-km road connecting Barguna-Bakerganj, 22 out of 29-km between Bhandaria-Mathbaria road, 22-km Kalapara-Kuakata road are full of large potholes.
"After the AL-led government came to power, present communication minister assured us of developing and expanding the Barisal-Dhaka road sector into a 4-lane highway which is yet to be implemented", said Dr. Mizanur Rahman, member secretary of Barisal Bibhag Unnayan Parishad.
Most Barisal divn roads badly damaged
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