Public woes unbound as Mogolhat Road in Lalmonirhat in tatters

An eight kilometre road extending from Kakeyatepa Temple to Mogolhat Tempu Stand in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila of the district has been lying in a dilapidated condition for long.

Meanwhile, thousands of people have been suffering much for a long time due to the dilapidation condition of Bayek More-Raghdoil Road-Sachar Bazar Road in Sachar Union under Kochua Upazila of the district.

In Lalmonirhat, several thousand inhabitants of the two unions- Mogolhat and Durgapur- of the Lalmonirhat district are facing commuting troubles due to the vulnerable condition of the road. This road is the only means of communication for several thousand people with the district town.

Every day several thousand villagers, traders and farmers commute this road for their daily necessaries and emergency work in the district and upazila headquarters. This area is very much popular for various vegetable farming so farmers need to carry their produce to different destinations through this road amid difficulties.

It is learnt that LGED took the extension and construction work of the road from Kakeyatepa Temple to Mogolhat Tempu Stand under an especial project to repair the roads damaged by Amphan cyclone amounting Tk 600 million (Tk 60 core).

After the work order, Belal Construction and Hamid Traders jointly started construction work of the road. Three years have already elapsed but the work of the road has not been completed yet due to unknown reason. Now the work is totally suspended.

Visiting the project site, it was seen that thousands of potholes have developed on the road. Common people are very much frustrated about the undone work of the road.

Samsul Alom, a farmer of the area, said especially patients and pregnant women have to suffer most while being taken to hospital.

They urged the authorities to look into the matter immediately. Several hundred inhabitants of the area formed a human chain on 24th February in front of Mogolhat union parishod demanding immediate step to finish the work.

Mashud Rana Rashed, a local journalist and also inhabitant of the area, expressed his deep concern about the bad shape of the road.

School-going children and critical patients like elderly and pregnant women suffer due to huge dust and bad condition of the road.

Mojjammel Haque, head teacher of Itapota Ideal High School, said people of this area are suffering much due to the bad shape of the road for nearly four years.

He urged to the department concerned to take necessary steps to finish the remaining work.

When contacted, Executive Engineer LGED Lalmonirhat KawsarAlom said, "We have already sent a letter to the higher authorities seeking cancelation of the work order. After a re-evaluation of the rest work we will call for a new tender. The process is on-going and expected to end soon."

In Chandpur, the 06-km road connects Sachar Bazar which is a famous area in the upazila for having a busy and bustling bazaar, a degree college, schools, famous Rothjatra temple and many other institutions.

Every day, thousands of people have to come to Sachar Bazar every day for various purposes.

Locals said the 06-km road is used round the clock, but it is now in a sorry state. So, pedestrians have been facing problems for a long time.

During a recent visit, it is found that innumerable small, medium and big potholes have developed in many places of the road.

Therefore, rainwater remains stagnant into the holes, causing immense sufferings for commuters.

Besides, light and heavy vehicles carrying commodities and passengers have to face risks of accident while plying the road.

"The road's condition turns worst at night and on rainy days," pedestrians said.

The patients and pregnant women have to suffer much due to the jerking of the vehicles.

Contacted, LGED Engineer Abdul Aleem Lytton has assured that the road would be incorporated into the Annual Development Programme in the coming fiscal year.

On the other hand, it was observed that a section of unscrupulous people are allegedly felling down roadside trees on Sachar Bazar- Nayakandi - Raghdoil Road.

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