Potholes, cracks mark 20km Dupchanchia-Akkelpur road

The 20 kilometre road from Dupchanchia in Bogra to Akkelpur in Joypurhat district has remained in an awful condition for years, much to the sufferings of thousands of commuters.

The road serves as an alternative way for a large number of vehicles including buses and trucks from Bogra and Joypurhat districts via Hili land port in Dinajpur district.

A good number of vehicles carrying paddy, rice and wheat to and from Dupchanchia Government Food Storage also use the road regularly.

It is of special importance as villages of Dupchanchia beside the road are famous for paddy production and traditional Gopinather Mela is held beside the road in Akkelpur upazila, said Babul Hossain, chairman of Zianagar union parishad.

But due to lack of repair for around four years, the carpeting on the road eroded and cracks and holes developed in the long road, making vehicular movement highly risky.

Patients who need to go to the upazila health complex and other hospitals become the worst sufferers due to the dilapidated condition of the road, locals said.

Jahangir Alam, executive engineer of Roads and Highways Department, Bogra, said, "The project for reconstruction of Dupchanchia-Akkelpur road will be placed in the meeting of the Executive Committee for National Economic Council very soon and we are hopeful of starting the reconstruction of the road after approval of the project and consequent budget allocation."