Urgently repair needed : Sufferings of people of two upazilas mounting due to bad shape of Cumilla -Mirpur road
Zakir Azad, Cumilla
In August last year, the protective dam of the Gomti River in Cumilla broke and flooded Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas.
As a result, the people of the two upazilas faced the worst floods in history. In addition to crops and other losses, 220 kilometres of roads were damaged in this sudden flood in the two upazilas. Of these, 70 kilometers in Burichang upazila and 150 kilometers in Brahmanpara upazila were damaged. Various parts of the Cumilla -Mirpur road were the most affected.
However, even though 11 months have passed since this terrible flood in history, the scars of the flood are still visible on the Cumilla -Mirpur road. The suffering of the people of the two upazilas has reached an extreme level due to the lack of repairs to the dilapidated roads. Due to the dilapidated condition of various parts of the road, minor and major accidents are happening at different times, wasting the time of the passengers.
It is learnt that since this important 32-kilometer long road is connected to the neighboring district of Brahmanbaria, thousands of people, including locals, travel on this road every day for various needs. Although 11 months have passed since the flood, this crowded road has not yet been renovated. Passengers, including people from the two upazilas, who use this road, do not know why the road is not being renovated.
Meanwhile, the Cumilla Roads and Highways Department says that despite three attempts, they could not complete the process. However, the Cumilla Roads and Highways Department has assured that the process will be completed soon and the renovation work of the road will begin.
It was seen on-site that the Cumilla -Mirpur road starts from Shassangacha in Cumilla city, passes through Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas, and merges with the Cumilla -Sylhet highway connected to the neighboring district of Brahmanbaria.
As a result, it is a very important road for people to travel. Even before the terrible floods in August last year, the condition of the road was not that good. Due to the terrible floods, the condition of the road has become even more fragile. The asphalt coating on various parts of the road has come off and potholes have been created. And due to this poor condition of the road, passengers traveling on this road have to spend twice as much time to reach their destination.
Besides , small and big accidents are constantly happening on various parts of the road due to potholes.
Since most of the road has been damaged, passengers, patients, students and local residents are suffering. Even after a little rain, water accumulates in the potholes on the road, making the road even more risky. Mizan Mia, a regular CNG driver on the Cumilla -Mirpur road, said, I have been driving on this road for the past 15 years. I was hearing about the road being renovated even before the flood. However, the condition of the road has worsened after the flood. Now I am afraid to drive on this road. I can face a major accident at any time. Due to the dilapidated condition of various parts of the road, vehicles have to drive very slowly on the road. If the road is not repaired soon, the road will become impassable.
A passenger on this road named Saidur Rhaman said, "I have been hearing for a long time that the road work will start. But unfortunately, there are no signs of it. It is very difficult for us to travel on this road, and it also takes a long time. Once we reach Cumilla , we have to take painkillers due to the shaking of the car. I am afraid of an accident until I get into the car and reach the destination.
It has become very urgent to repair the road.
A local resident Poras Mondal said, the Cumilla -Mirpur road is a neglected road. However, thousands of people travel on this road every day for various needs. When it rains, there are some parts of the road where it is not even possible to walk. Passengers often fall victim to accidents due to small and large potholes on the road.
A local resident Poras Mondal said, the Cumilla -Mirpur road is a neglected road. However, thousands of people travel on this road every day for various needs. When it rains, there are some parts of the road where it is not even possible to walk. Passengers often fall victim to accidents due to small and large potholes on the road.
Cumilla Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Khandaker Golam Mostafa said, "The tender process for the entire Cumilla -Mirpur road has not been completed yet.
However, we have tendered for 13 kilometers of the road up to Burichang and we hope to start work in the first week of July. We are working with the ministry on the road. We hope that we will soon be able to complete the tender process for that road up to Brahmanpara and renovate the road."
