Highways in disrepair

LACK of maintenance coupled with fund constraints has rendered large sections of the six major highways connecting the capital with the rest of the country hazardous for communication.  Even so, the public have no other option but to take the risk, while using these highways for traveling. The communications secretary's assurance that the inconvenience is temporary and that condition of 70 per cent of the highways will improve by the current financial year, however, is of little comfort for them in immediate terms.
The Roads and Highways department in a report last December said that only 20 per cent of the highways across the nation is in good condition, while 41 per cent of them is in a state of dilapidation. The situation was better in 2012 with only 38 per cent of the highways in such a bad shape.  That means, far from improving, condition of the highways is worsening with the passage of time. One wonders with the Eid festival round the corner, what is awaiting the homebound Eid travelers on the cratered and potholed highways.  
Clearly, the entire roads and highways administration is in a state of disarray. The amount earmarked for road maintenance in the current budget s only Tk. 1300 crore. This is only 16.66 per cent of the total amount of Tk 7700 crore necessary for the purpose. What is then the basis of the government's optimism that things will improve shortly?       
Roads and highways being the vital physical infrastructure for the country's development, the government must put its house in this sector in order. The sooner it is done the better.