Left unfinished, Tk5,791cr road dev project turns into a nightmare

Highlights:

• Large potholes on 4-kilometre highway stretch cause suffering
• Regular maintenance not possible due to ongoing project
• Indian contractor left Bangladesh after government fall
• Contractor yet to receive a No Objection Certificate from High Commission
• Government sends letter assuring contractor's safety

A Tk5,791 crore project to upgrade the road from Ashuganj river port to Akhaura Land Port in Brahmanbaria into a four-lane highway has come to a halt, leaving it in a state of disrepair.

The Indian contractor's staff left the country following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, putting the project in limbo.

As a result, the highway has deteriorated significantly, with at least 4 kilometres of the road under Brahmanbaria Sadar developing numerous potholes, making it difficult for both passenger and freight vehicles to navigate.

Due to the road being under a project, the Roads and Highways Department has been unable to carry out regular maintenance.

This section of the road is crucial for traffic between Brahmanbaria-Dhaka-Brahmanbaria and Sylhet-Chattogram-Sylhet routes, and delays in repairs have only added to growing public frustration.

In the meantime, the local administration has taken temporary measures to fill the potholes with brick chips to make the road somewhat passable for vehicles.

Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Didarul Alam recently told TBS, "Hopefully, the employees of the contracting company will return soon, and the project will resume. The ministry concerned has already sent a letter to ensure their safety, and necessary steps are being taken in this regard."

Project Manager Shamim Ahmed acknowledged the issues, explaining that the dilapidated sections of the road could not be repaired in the contractor's absence.

"We have made a request to allocate funds from the government's revenue to repair it temporarily. The matter is being considered by the higher authorities," he told TBS.

Shamim also noted that the Indian contractor has yet to receive a no-objection certificate from the High Commission, further delaying the resumption of work. Given these delays, it is likely that the project deadline will be extended, he added.

M Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, yesterday told TBS, "We are aware of the project. The officials of the Indian construction company left Bangladesh, due to concerns about deteriorating law and order. However, we have communicated with them and assured them of their safety. They are now in India on Puja vacation. They are going to come on Tuesday and then the project work will resume."

In response to a question about potential consequences for missing the deadline, he said, "We will address that later. For now, our focus is on resuming work."

Deadline extended thrice, project 55% complete

The project, which started in 2020, aimed to establish better land communication with northeastern India and boost domestic trade. Approved by the government in 2017, the project was expected to upgrade 51 kilometres of the road into a four-lane highway.

It is being funded jointly by the Bangladesh government and a loan from India, with the construction divided into three packages.

Indian contractor Afcons Infrastructure Limited was awarded all three packages. Despite three deadline extensions, the project has only seen 55% overall progress, and work on the third package has yet to begin.

The situation worsened after 5 August when around 300 employees of the Indian contracting firm gradually returned to India, halting all project work.

With one side of the road closed for construction, the remaining narrow stretch has become increasingly congested, causing severe traffic delays and creating significant problems for commuters.

Dust from the construction site has also become a major issue, affecting the health of residents living near the highway, many of whom now suffer from respiratory diseases.

The condition of the road is particularly dire in areas like Sorail-Bishworod, Ghatura, Puniyaut, Radhika, and Sultanpur, where large potholes and raised sections of pitch have made it almost impassable.

During the rainy season, these potholes fill with water, turning parts of the highway into muddy, hazardous stretches.

Accidents are frequent, as vehicles often overturn due to the poor road condition. Transport owners and workers are facing financial losses from frequent vehicle breakdowns, adding to the overall economic impact.

In the Ghatura and Puniyaut areas, daily traffic jams are common due to the slow movement of vehicles through these damaged sections.

The delays are particularly challenging for patients and their families travelling to Brahmanbaria Medical College Hospital, which is located next to the highway.

Local residents, like Shamim Miah, have expressed their frustration, describing the road conditions as unbearable, with large potholes causing vehicles to overturn and contributing to severe traffic congestion.

Another resident Jewel Miah echoed these concerns, noting that the ongoing construction has made daily life more difficult, with dust clouds often blanketing the area. He stated that many locals are now suffering from respiratory issues as a result of the project's slow pace.

CNG-powered auto-rickshaw driver Selim Miah said, "Vehicles often break down on the broken parts of the highway. Spare parts get damaged, causing losses. Moreover, due to traffic jams, we have to charge passengers more than the fixed fare to cover the losses."

The Roads and Highways Department has confirmed that regular maintenance could not be carried out on the Sarail-Bishwaroad to Dharhkhar section of the highway because the road falls under the four-lane project.

Responsibility for the maintenance of this section lies with the contracting company, officials said.

Despite the deteriorating situation, it remains unclear when the Indian contractor's employees will return to Bangladesh and resume work.