Dilapidated road sorrow for commuters

Thousands of commuters on Doariakona-Chandpur road in Netrakona's Kalmakanda upazila have been experiencing untold sufferings for long as the road is in a dilapidated condition.

Locals said the two-kilometre-long road through Anandapur has been lying neglected for over two years due to unknown reason.

This important road is the only means of communication for people of at least 10 villages under Kalmakanda Sadar, Kharnoi, Panchgaon and Rongchhati unions, many villagers said.

A number of potholes have developed on different portions of the road, creating untold sufferings to its users, local Journalist Kajal Talukder said

Moreover, the approach road connecting the only bridge in Doariakona area is also in a sorry state, he added.

Headmaster of Kalmakanda Government Model Primary School Prabir Kumar Sarker said the road has been lying neglected for over two years.

Local people have urged the authorities concerned on several occasions to renovate the dilapidated road but no steps has been taken yet, the headmaster said, adding that, the condition of the road went more worsen in the last one year due to plying of over loaded trucks and sand-laden trolleys.

Hundreds of students of at least eight educational institutions, including four primary schools and a college, in the upazila use the road to go to their institution.

They face serious difficulties while using the road, especially in the rainy season, the headmaster said.

Netrakona Zila Parishad member Idris Ali Talukder, hailing from Chandpur village, said not only from Kalmakanda, people from adjacent Durgapur upazila also use the road to go to Darampasha and Tahirpur upazilas in Sunamganj and Haluaghat upazila of Mymensingh.

In 2009, Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) constructed the road and since then no major repair work has been done, said Idris, also joint-secretary of Kalmakanda upazila unit Awami League.

Elderly people and emergency patients are the worst sufferers, he further said.

Abul Kashem, secretary of Udichi Shilpi Gosthi Kalmakanda upazila unit, said the important road is used as a bypass road for many adjacent areas, putting a serious pressure on the main road leading to Kalmakanda upazila headquarters.

Commuters also face serious traffic congestion on hat (weekly market) days on every Sunday and Wednesday, said Kashem.

Contacted, Kalmakanda Upazila LGED Assistant Engineer Imran Hossain said they have sent a proposal to the concerned ministry for expansion and repair work of the road on an urgent basis.

The proposal is yet to be approved, the engineer added.