Nightmare journey to Kuakata

20 April 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

With large potholes, awfully dilapidated 22 kilometre Kalapara-Kuakata road itself tells the tale of its decrepit state.Photo: STAR

Tourists are turning away from Kuakata sea beach, one of the country's most attractive tourist spots, as awfully dilapidated 22-kilometre road from Kalapara to Kuakata has become a nuisance for travellers. Marked with a number of large potholes and ditches, the road leading to Kuakata has become so risky that most of the direct bus services from capital Dhaka have been suspended and the number of tourists there has drastically fallen. With its immensely beautiful landscape and seascape, Kuakata sea beach and its surrounding areas attract about half a million visitors from across the country annually. The picturesque spot also attracts a large number of tourists from abroad. But the tedious and risky journey through the decrepit road would make one averse to go there again. Last year Roads and Highways Department repaired it at a cost of Tk 2.28 crore but within months huge potholes and ditches re-appeared posing risks for passenger buses, goods carrying trucks and other vehicles. Small vehicles including private cars and microbuses are exposed to greater risk as they often meet accidents and get stuck in deep ditches. Traders, hoteliers, and people from all walks of life now openly talk about the rampant corruption regarding the funds for repair of Kalapara-Kuakata road that bears all the signs of negligence by the authorities concerned. The tourism-dependent traders are passing a hard time in the current tourist season, which is now at the fag end. Tourists have lost interest in the beautiful place due mainly to communication problem, said several traders. “During the last two months, we got only seven guests daily on an average. Earlier when condition of the road was better, some 200 guests visited our facility every day,” said an official of Holiday Homes, a motel of Parjatan Corporation. "Now we have to pay almost double the rate to hire a truck to carry fish from Kuakata," said Nimai Ahandra, secretary of Mohipur Fish Traders Association. Earlier, the 50-km Patuakhali-Kalapara road was constructed with Tk 44 crore provided by Danida. RHD repaired 22-km Kalapara-Kuakata road at a cost of Tk 2.28 crore just after the super cyclone Sidr in November 2007 but the road became unfit for use in a year as the quality of repair work was very low, sources said. Road and Highways officials in Patuakhali said a project for reconstruction of Kalapara-Kuakata road has been approved by higher authorities but the work is yet to start. Khalid-Bin-Majid, deputy manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), said they sent several letters to higher authorities concerned to take immediate steps to reconstruct Kalapara-Kuakata road. When contacted, RHD Executive Engineer Alamgir Shahidul Islam said the ministry concerned has already allocated Tk 130 crore to construct three bridges to replace ferry services at three places on the road and a Tk 57 crore development project plan has been approved to reconstruct the road. He said reconstruction of the road will start after floating tenders. Authorities' indifference and lack of proper planning is a barrier to development of Kuakata, one of country's main tourist attractions, as a thriving tourist spot, said tourists, local people and traders.