Vehicles Stuck in Large Potholes

Road link with Kuakata remains snapped

10 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

L-R: A bus getting stuck in a large pothole at Mohipur on Patuakhali-Kuakata route on Sunday caused suspension of road communication.
Dilapidated Sher-e-Bangla Road, one of many such thoroughfares in Patuakhali town, remains a nuisance for commuters. Photo: STAR

With four buses and a truck trapped in large potholes at Mohipur, Mostafapur and Pakhimara bus stands on Kuakata-Patuakhali Road, communication between Kuakata and the rest of the country remained snapped since Sunday afternoon. The vehicles could not be removed as of filing this report yesterday evening. Large potholes and ditches feature not only Patuakhali-Kuakata road, but also most of the 91 km pucca roads in Patuakhali municipality area. Due to the damage caused by recurrent high tide, 55.4 km roads in Patuakhali municipality area have become unfit for use, said sources at engineering department of the municipality. Rainwater and tidal water gather in the holes on the roads, adding to the sufferings of about one lakh inhabitants, especially school going children in the area. The worst damaged roads are General Hospital Road, Old Hospital Road, Jubilee School Road, Sadar Road, Centrepara Road, Tulatala Road, Sabujbagh Road, Kathpatti Road, Thanapara Road, Kazipara Road, C&B Road, Kalatala Road, Old Ferryghat Road, Sher-e-Bangla Road and Water Works Road. Acting chairman of the municipality, Abu Zafor Shamsuddin said, “We got allocation of only Tk 25 lakh in last fiscal year to repair the damaged roads but we spent about Tk 2 crore. Contractors' bills are yet to be paid due to lack of fund.” “Repair work will start after getting new allocation for the current fiscal year 2009-2010. We have sent letters to the higher authority concerned for allocating Tk 3 crore to repair the damaged roads,” he said.