Road repair work in Sylhet division poor

Innumerable potholes have been developed on the Sylhet-Jakiganj Road, badly damaged by last flood. Although the Roads and Highways Department started its repair work, yet people are not happy due to its poor quality. People urged the RHD authorities to do quality work. PHOTO: STAR

However, the amount is too meagre for construction of all damaged roads which will take a long time to finish the work, according to

an official of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

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While visiting the Sylhet-Jakiganj road recently, the correspondent was dismayed to see its poor repair work. The road plays a very important role in connecting at least five upazilas with the district and divisional headquarters of Sylhet. Vehicles of all types ply on the road round the clock. Several rallies were held at the upazila headquarters of Golapganj demanding its immediate repair work. People have demanded quality repair work of the damaged roads.

As many as 718 bridges and culverts collapsed during the deluge.

About 56-kilometre road out of 337-kilometre national highway, 223-kilometre out of 411-kilometre regional highway and 343-kilometre out of 728-kilometre district highway were badly damaged by the deluge in four districts in the division.

The damaged national highway includes 26-kilometre in Sylhet and 30-kilometre in Habiganj district. Damaged regional highway includes, 112-km in Sunamganj, 53-km in Sylhet, 34-km in Moulvibazar and 34-km in Habiganj.

People suffered a lot due to big potholes created on almost all the roads. Loaded trucks, buses or minibuses already fell down the ditches in many spots creating untold sufferings of transport employees and people alike. Sometimes, it took hours to clear the jam.

People in different areas staged sit-in demonstrations as well as protest rallies demanding road repair work.

It would cost about Tk 120 crore for repair of flood damaged roads in the division, according to an official.