Photo : TDM
The road repair project between the Baliadangi junction and the bus stand in Thakurgaon have sparked complaints and raised alarm among residents, casting doubt on the quality of the undertaken road improvements. The project, contracted to Aminul Haq Private Ltd., has come under scrutiny for alleged irregularities and subpar execution.
Local concerns have intensified as what was once a well-maintained road has seemingly transformed into a substandard one, leaving citizens questioning the motives behind the purported "road enhancement." With a surge in road accidents and growing apprehensions about the alleged misallocation of government funds, demands for an official investigation have gained traction.
The Thakurgaon Roads and Highway authorities have reported that Aminul Haq Private Ltd. was entrusted with the task of upgrading a 3.5 km stretch from the Baliadangi junction to the bus stand on Thakurgaon road. The project, budgeted at approximately Tk20 lakh, was labeled as a "primer seal" for road enhancement.
According to official records, work on the road improvement initiative commenced the previous Thursday at the intersection of Road Baliadangi. Despite efforts continuing until 10 pm on the subsequent Saturday, frustrations among local residents escalated, leading to a road blockade near Santosh Bastralaya due to perceived lack of progress. A completion was announced on Sunday, notwithstanding inclement weather conditions. However, ongoing maintenance work has cast doubts on the declared finality of the repairs.
The situation took a grim turn for Kavya, a resident of Badveshri Bazar, who fell victim to a road accident. On a Sunday evening while returning from Shibganj, Kavya's motorcycle skidded on loose gravel present on the road, resulting in severe injuries for both her and her co-rider. Kavya's testimony sheds light on the dire consequences of what she claims to be substandard roadwork under the guise of improvement. Similar incidents have been recounted by Musharraf and other motorcyclists, adding to the chorus of grievances.
Al Raji Leone, Deputy Divisional Engineer of Thakurgaon Roads and Public Ways Department, acknowledged that certain sections of the road were indeed deteriorating, necessitating intervention. Leone defended the decision to apply a primary seal to address existing cracks. However, he attributed the accidents to the purportedly reckless speeds at which motorcyclists were operating rather than solely blaming the road conditions.
TDM/SD
