Should a newly built highway need repair so soon?

It is astonishing that a large segment of the expanded Dhaka-Chittagong highway, that overran time by six years, has fallen into a state of disrepair within months after its completion.

The project, which took four years to kick off after it was launched in 2006, has cost the taxpayers Tk 36 billion—more than twice the amount initially planned. Now, as deep ruts have developed in several portions of the highway, the road transport and bridge ministry has rushed into seeking a further Tk nine billion for its maintenance in the next five years. While the necessary repair works must commence forthwith, we are not aware if any experts have been engaged to determine what caused the damage in the first place. Since repair is merely a stop gap measure, unless the inherent faults are removed the road will be in need for constant repair. 

Engineers and officials involved in the project are blaming "overloaded vehicles" for the ruts, which doesn't wash. Firstly, shouldn't the planners have worked out the load factor before the construction or expansion of the road? Secondly, such opinion has not been based on any expert inquiry. Thirdly, there is a machine to check overload. Was it in use? If not, why?

The construction process, we feel, has been shoddy at best. The project speaks of poor planning, unchecked use of sub-standard construction materials, and lack of strict oversight. And there are enough grounds to suspect gross misuse of public funds. That is what must be found out.    

Public money is not there for profligate expenditure. There must be complete transparency and full accountability of every farthing of people's money. And the government must make examples of all those who misuse state funds for filling their own coffers.