About 400 meters of the Kushtia-Ishwardi highway, which is very important for the communication of the northern region with South Bengal, has collapsed down.
The road from Trimohoni area in Kushtia to Bheramara Baromile area has caused severe traffic congestion in an area of about 7 km. Hundreds of bus-trucks on both sides of the road are being forced to stand on this highway for hours to cross the road. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to cross this 400 meter road on both sides of the collapsed part.
There are often minor accidents while driving on this road. On the other hand, there has been extreme suffering for people. Although the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is carrying out emergency repair works by throwing bricks and sand, without much benefit. This important highway seems to have become a disaster now.
Seeing the current condition, there is no way to understand that this was once the Kushtia-Ishwardi highway. It looks like a dirt road of a remote area. But this road is the only means of communication between the southern part of the country and the northern part. This highway, which is an important part of the national highway, has been in this state for almost a year.
In the meanwhile, about 400 meters of road has collapsed from Ranakharia Jyoti filling station of Mirpur upazila of Kushtia to the cemetery. There is no way to understand when the pitch got washed away and the mud came out.
Speaking to the local RHD office, it is learned that this important highway was constructed about two years and two months ago. At that time, the road was constructed without considering the capacity of heavy vehicles for loading goods, so after a few days, the road was seen to be bumpy at various places. With the passage of time, the road became completely unsuitable for traffic due to potholes.
According to the locals, Ranakharia Balur Ghat is next to the place where the road has collapsed. Hundreds of heavy trucks loaded with sand are plying on the highway every day. At that time the highway was constructed without considering the capacity of heavy vehicles to travel on this highway and now the public has to pay compensation. The RHD will carry out emergency repair works by laying bricks and sand on this highway to alleviate the suffering of the people, but no benefit has been reaped from that.
Shakirul Islam, Executive Engineer of Kushtia RHD department, said that the road from Trimohoni in Kushtia to Bheramara upazila up to Baromile area is about 12 km long. Tenders have recently been called for the reconstruction of the road. It is hoped that construction work on the road will begin soon. He remarked that once the road is rebuilt, the suffering of the people will be alleviated.