Death trap on Ctg-Cox's Bazar Highway: Speed breakers installed, locals fear rise in robbery
Expansion into four lanes demanded
In an immediate response to the accidents claiming 15 lives during the Eid holidays at Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway's Chunati-Jangalia area, speed breakers have been installed there, which locals find an imprudent action.
While the installed rumble strips will slow down vehicles, it might lead to increased risk of robbery on the highway, they say, adding that the area is very solitary.
Instead, they demanded expanding the highway from two lanes to four lanes.
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"Installing speed breakers without establishing a police checkpoint could make vehicles vulnerable to attacks [by robbers]," local journalist Kaisar Hamid Tushar says.
"This might actually lead to more accidents! There's also a rising fear of increased theft and robbery since the area is deserted," local resident Mohammad Abdul Latif writes on Facebook.
However, Executive Engineer at Chattogram South Roads and Highways Department Pintu Chakma and Dohazari highway police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Subho Ranjan Chakma both expressed optimism that the rumble strips would help curb accidents.
OC Subho Ranjan also stressed the urgent need to upgrade the highway to four lanes.
Located some 75 kilometres away from the port city, Chunati-Jangalia area in Lohagara upazila has long been recognised as a high-risk accident zone. Characterised by steep inclines and multiple hazardous curves, the three-kilometre stretch of the highway is very risky for speeding vehicles.
Engineering flaws in road design have also been blamed for frequent accidents there.
Transport leaders too called for a viable solution.
The highway needs to be expanded into a four or six-lane one, hazardous curves should be removed, and a road divider should be constructed to prevent future accidents, said both Arakan Road Transport Workers' Union President Mohammad Musa and former Lohagara upazila chairman Farid Uddin Khan.
Lohagara UNO Md Inamul Hasan said after an inspection by Adviser Faruk-e-Azam, discussions have begun on removing the dangerous curves.
During the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, at least 15 people lost their lives and some 30 others injured in separate accidents within 48 hours in the area.
