Faisal Haque, Chilmari (Kurigram)

Finally, road renovation work has started at the cost of crores of taka to reduce the sufferings of people in Thanahat Market of Chilmari upazila of Kurigram.

The road, which was cupped about a century ago, had small potholes covering most of it. As a result, most of the people of this upazila had to suffer to travel on that road. The common people of this upazila are excited that the work of road preservation and renovation has started.

Under the supervision of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the repair and maintenance of 'Rural Roads' in the financial year 2023-24, the repair and maintenance work of 1746 meters road from Thanahat GC to Bajra GC Road of the upazila has started. Out of this, 241 meters of CC welding will be done from LSD intersection and the remaining part will be carpeted. The estimated cost is 1 crore 31 lakh 62 thousand 82 taka and the contract price is 1 crore 25 lakh 3 thousand 977 rupees. The work is being done by the local contractor Nachima Traders.

On inquiry, it has been revealed that the Thanahat Bazar road was carpeted about a century ago. After that, when various types of vehicles including heavy vehicles started moving and due to rain, potholes were formed in different places on the road and carpeting was raised.

Since then, people travel in poor conditions. Sometimes the pits are repaired temporarily by putting bricks or sand on them, but the rain or the wheels of the vehicles cause them to rise again. Most of the people of this upazila used to travel on this road.

Abdul Jalil of Demnarpar area said, if you want to go to Thanahat market, you have to go to that road. It was very difficult to move on broken roads. Now I see the work has started. If the road work is completed properly, we will not have any difficulty in moving.

A student of the school said that they have to go to school through Thanahat market. Road condition was very bad. Especially if it's raining, there's nothing else to say. Crying water would freeze and become one.

Auto driver Hamidul said that the road to the market was very bad. If you take the auto, the condition of the car will get worse. Full of holes everywhere. A little movement was possible at this time. But the rain was not really a way to know where the holes were and where the good ones were. We are happy that the road work has started after a long time.

Chairman of Chilmari Upazila Parishad. Rukunuzzaman Shaheen said, since becoming the chairman, I have tried to quickly repair the roads in Sadar. Finally, the work allocation of three main roads has come. A job has already started. The remaining works are awaiting the tender process. Those works will be implemented soon.

Upazila Engineer Md. Firozur Rahman said that since long the road was in bad condition, people were having problems to move.

At present, 1746 meters of road work has started. Out of this 241 meters will be RCC. The work is being supervised by LGED all the time to ensure that all the people including the public representatives are doing their best.