The important upazila road of Ishwardi town of Pabna is now in dilapidated condition for a while. Residents living on the side of the road complained that the condition of the road was due to the movement of trucks loaded with sand weighing more than its carrying capacity.
Large potholes and ditches have been created on the road, making it impassable for small and large vehicles. The road was repaired three years ago and made suitable for traffic. But this condition is due to the movement of trucks loaded with sand. If the normal traffic continued, the road would have been suitable for two to three more years, said an official of the Upazila Engineer's Office.
According to the Upazila Nirbahi Engineer's Office, the 5 km road from the city's rail gate to Civilhot is one of the most important roads in Ishwardi. Heavy vehicles started plying on the road a few days after the renovation in 2016. When trucks weighing more than their carrying capacity started moving, they started to fall apart. As a result, the road is now in disrepair.
Read more: 5,050 farmers to get agri incentives in Pabna
Going to the spot, it can be seen that the vehicles are moving very slowly on the road. Vehicles are crossing potholes and ditches with caution. It is learned that thousands of people use this road to travel to the Upazila Administration Office, Sub-Registrar's Office and entertainment center Sanghat. Besides, the employees of Ishwardi EPZ travel on this road in different vehicles. They are suffering every day due to the dilapidated condition of the road. You also have to read in accidents.
According to some residents living on the side of the road, sand-laden trucks ply on the road from dawn to dusk. This condition of the road is due to the movement of trucks in particular. They said that it started to break little by little from a year ago and now it has created big holes.
‘We do not understand why the authorities allow vehicles that are heavier than they can carry,’ auto driver Idris Ali said that there is a fear of overturning of trucks and auto-rickshaws at any time due to the dilapidated condition of the upazila road. He demanded immediate repair of the road.
Upazila Nirbahi Engineer EnamulKabir said the road was made suitable for vehicles weighing 18 tonnes. However, heavy drum trucks with 10 and 8 wheels carry 30 to 35 tons of sand and soil on this road. Due to this, the condition of the road has increased day by day.
He said it is also one of the important roads in the city. He said the Rajshahi Development Project has applied for construction of the road by widening and increasing the capacity (capacity building). If approved, the road will be widened and the capacity will be increased.