LALMONIRHAT, 29: Dilapidated condition, innumerable potholes and narrow structural design
have turned the 100 kilometre Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway into a death trap and unfit for vehicular movement.
Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway is the only route to reach four other upazilas of the district from sadar upazila.
Every day several thousand light and heavy vehicles play the highway. Burimari is the second largest land port of the country. During the Ershad regime, Burimari port started its operation in 1988.
At that time, the road was constructed for communication with Burimari port.
Traders import different types of goods from neighbouring countries Bhutan and India through this port and send to other parts of the country.
Once various other goods were imported but now only rock stones, dolomite and some other products are being brought in through the port.
Several thousands 10 to 18-wheeler heavy trucks carry sand and stones on this road to other parts of the country every day. Especially the thick sand of Patgram is popular for construction works. Every day 8,000-10,000 vehicles including heavy sand-laden trucks move on the road.
In recent times, due to heavy rain, potholes have developed turning vehicular movement more risky at night.
The highway has also 84 sharp bends and 11 level crossings, which is a rare example for a 100km highway in the country.
Rafiqul Alom, driver of a heavy truck, said that he regularly carries sand from Patgram to many places but he expressed concern that the road is completely unfit for smooth movement due to innumerable small and big potholes.
While driving loaded vehicles, sudden jolts from potholes and surface bulges often lead to a loss of control over the steering causing fatal accidents, he added.
He called upon the authorities concerned to upgrade the highway into a four-lane one considering its importance and Burimari land port.
If the road is expanded to four-lane, economic activities of this area will flourish in near future.
Shupendronath Datto. a social worker and also convenor of Lalmonirhat Unnoyon Parishad, said that four-lane highway from Borobari to Burimari land port is a longstanding demand of local people but no step has been taken so far by the authorities.
Mostofa Salauzzaman Opel, president of Export-Import Association of Burimari Port, said, "Four lane-highway and Burimari Express train from Burimari station is our longstanding demands. We are expecting attention of the Honourable Prime Minister in this regard."
When contacted, Executive Engineer Debasish Shaha of the Roads and Highways Department, Lalmonirhat said, "We are temporally repairing some parts of the road on an emergency basis to keep it fit. We are also preparing a proposal for making the road stretch from Borobari to
Burimari land port a four-lane one. Immediately, we will send it to the relevant ministry for consideration. If it is approved by ECNEC, the road will be upgraded to a four-lane one in future."
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