Substandard works blamed for rapid damage

Staff Reporter:

Due to construction defects and use of low-quality materials, the Patbandar-Satbaria road in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district has collapsed within just four months of construction pushing thousands of commuters in the areas at misery.

Huge numbers of potholes have been developed at different places in the road, while many parts of the road have broken down into the roadside ditch due to substandard construction works.

It has been learned that, ‘Esha and Maria Enterprise’ built the 900-meter road at a cost of about Tk 1.5 crore with the funding of LGED. After a long time, the locals expressed excitement due to the construction of the road. However, that excitement has turned into intense anger as the road has become dilapidated due to severe damage from a little rain.

Local residents are now facing immense suffering as the important road of the upazila has collapsed. Hundreds of people and vehicle drivers have to use this road to go to the market and workplaces every day. Due to the potholes on the road, various vehicles including rickshaws, vans and motorcycles often become disordered.

Abdullah and Mamun of Satbaria village said, during the construction of the road, the soil was collected for it after cutting from both sides. As a result, the soil moved away when vehicles pressure was fallen on it with a little rain. Besides, low quality of construction materials like brick pieces, pitch and sand were used on the road.

Biswajit, the owner of the contracting firm Esha and Maria Enterprise, said, “The road has been constructed as per the rules. Recently, heavy rains have caused damage in some places.”

He advised to contact an official of the LGED office, requesting not to publish the report at this time.

LGED’s Ullapara Upazila Engineer Md. Shahidullah said, a total of Tk 1.15 crore was spent for the construction of the road. This year, the road has been damaged in many places due to heavy rains. Necessary measures will be taken after inspecting the site.