Domar-Chilahati-Muktirhat road in awful condition
Locals formed a human chain in front of Maya Cinema Hall in Domar municipality yesterday demanding early steps to repair 26-kilometre-long Domar-Chilahati-Muktirhat road near the border areas under the district.
The commercially important road, also used by Border Guard Bangladesh for movement to and from different bordering camps, has become almost unfit for vehicular movement due to lack of repair or renovation for long.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. People of Domar municipality under the banner of Citizens' Unity have continued agitation for a week and even planted paddy saplings on the muddy road to press for their demand.
Visiting the road on Wednesday, this correspondent saw a number of potholes on the road that has become muddy at places.
Some of the most vulnerable points of the road are in front of Maya Cinema Hall in Domar municipality and at Mahiganj, Dhonchonpur, Joradhigi, Purarhat, Mirjaganj Haat, Jharpara, Chandokhana, Kazirhat, and Botolganj.
"Accidents occur almost regularly. A good number of vehicles have already stopped operation on this route to avoid frequent damage of vehicles," said Shahjahan Choudhury, president of district bus and truck owners group.
Seven people were injured as a loaded truck bound for Chilahati rammed a roadside restaurant when the driver lost control at about 10:00pm last Friday.
The road was constructed 20 years ago but no noticeable initiative was taken in last 15 years to repair or reconstruct it, locals said.
Contacted, executive engineer of Local Government Engineering Department in Nilphamari Huque Mahmud said, "The road needs repair as well as expansion on both sides as heavy vehicles move through it regularly. I have sent to the higher authorities a project proposal, assessing a tentative expenditure of Tk 10 crore. We hope to get it approved and start the work by early next fiscal year."
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