Tk12.5cr sought for Cumilla road repairs following Hasnat’s protest releasing fish into potholes
Five tenders have been invited so far this to repair the road, but due to various complications, the project could not commence, says an RHD officer in Cumilla
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Cumilla has sent an application to the road transport ministry, seeking an allocation of Tk12.5 crore for the renovation of the pothole-ridden Debidwar-Chandina road, which NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah protested by releasing fish into the damaged sections.
Mentioning that Hasnat's protest drew their attention, Cumilla Roads and Highways Department Sub-Divisional Engineer Md Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan told The Business Standard that they have submitted a formal request to the relevant ministry yesterday (12 October) for Tk12.5 crore fund for the renovation.
"If the allocation is approved by today, we plan to begin work within 15–20 days," Shafiqul Islam added.
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He said that the 14-kilometer road, a vital link between two upazilas as well as between the Dhaka–Chattogram and Cumilla–Sylhet regional highways, has long been in a state of disrepair due to numerous potholes, making travel hazardous. "Despite repeated attempts, renovation work has stalled this year."
The official further said, "Five tenders have been invited so far this to repair the road, but due to various complications, the project could not commence."
The tenders were issued on 3 February, 2 March, 8 May, in June, and 14 August, with only one to three applications received each time, he added.
The Debidwar-Chandina regional connecting road in Cumilla has been in a dilapidated state for a long time, with potholes so large that parts of the road now resemble small waterbodies.
In protest of the authorities' inaction, Hasnat, the NCP's chief organiser for the southern region, released fish into the water-filled potholes on the road on 10 October.
