Ishwardi-Ruppur road costing tk. 2cr lasts not even 2 years

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
The Ishwardi-Ruppur road built at a cost of two crore taka could not last even two years. In the meantime, big holes have been created in different parts of the road. At some places, bitumen rises, bricks, mud and sand come out and dust rises, causing traffic to suffer. Minor accidents at broken places are a daily occurrence. Locals have complained that the situation has arisen due to poor quality work done by the contractor in collaboration with the local engineering department. The local engineering department and the contractor claimed that the road was collapsing due to overloaded vehicles, especially trucks carrying bricks and sand.
It has been reported that the IshwardiUpazila Engineering Department of the local government has constructed a road of about three kilometers from Umirpur on the outskirts of Ishwardi Municipality to Ruppur Junction via Baghail. The engineering department said that about 2 crore taka have been spent on the construction. The work of Ishwardi to Ruppur road started in March of 2021-22 Fiscal Year and ended in April. Later, within a year, when various places collapsed, renovations were done by the contractor. However, the road broke again after one year of maintenance by the contractor. Local residents have to suffer.
It can be seen on the surface, large holes have been broken in different places. At some places, bitumen rises, bricks, mud and sand come out and dust rises, causing traffic to suffer. In Umirpur area, a little distance from where the road starts, small and large holes have been created transversely. Every day vehicles are moving with risk. Local Abdul Mannan said that many people are getting injured due to minor accidents every day. Minor accidents have become a daily occurrence here.
According to the Ishwardi office of the Directorate of Engineering, after the construction of a road, it must be passable for at least three years. The contractor is also bound to maintain up to one year of construction. If it is broken within this period, it is repaired and if it is not repaired, there is a provision of confiscation of the contractor’s security.
Contractor Zeenat Ali Jinnah said in this regard, the work has been done according to the rules. Up to one year was the responsibility of reformation. If it breaks now, the contractor is not responsible for it.
Upazila Engineer EnamulKabir said that the road was constructed three years ago and said that water has accumulated in the fields on both sides of the road. The pitch of the road is not stable due to alluvial soil in the low land. Moreover, due to the movement of vehicles that are heavier than the carrying capacity of the road, some parts within 300 meters have broken and created potholes. Stating that it will be repaired, he also said that in the future, the road will be constructed anew by filling with sand and planing.