Dhaka-Barisal highway is the only means of communication for the people of 21 districts in the southern region. However, as the road is narrow, there is no end to the suffering of the passengers. They travel with risk.
After research, it is known that there are multiple lanes in the highways across the country. But the Dhaka-Barisal highway is narrow. In addition, slow illegal vehicles like TomTom, Nasimon, autorickshaws and vans are running uncontrollably on this highway. In this too, suffering and accidents are increasing. This misery is caused due to narrow roads and slow illegal vehicles. As a result, the vehicles are moving at risk on this busiest road.
The highway is only 18-24 feet wide in the Madaripur section from Bhurghata in Kalkini in Madaripur to Tekerhat in Rajair. Meanwhile, the situation in many places is shaky. As a result, the passengers have to travel with the risk of life.
According to the sources of the Roads and Public Ways Department, in 2015, the government decided to upgrade the highway to six lanes from Bhanga in Faridpur to the tourist center Kuakata via Barisal. Besides, a consultancy firm has been appointed for the feasibility study and design of the proposed six-lane highway. The consultant submitted the final design but no progress was made due to bureaucratic complications.
Madaripur history researcher Subal Biswas said that the number of vehicles on the Dhaka-Barisal highway has increased four times than before. Mainly since the inauguration of Padma Bridge, the highway has improved even though the number of vehicles has increased. At some places two vehicles side by side have to face problems. As a result, accidents keep happening on this highway. Demand that the busiest highway be upgraded to six lanes as soon as possible.
Truck driver Anwar Hossain was going to Dhaka with a truck from Madaripur. He said, because the Dhaka-Barisal highway is narrow, we have to face many problems to travel.
Mamun-or-Rashid, supervisor of Sonali Paribahan in the district, said that the road is narrow and accidents are often caused due to illegal vehicles plying on it.
Madaripur Mustafapur Highway Police Inspector Maruf Rahman said, we are more cautious ahead of Eid. We are working so that no illegal vehicles can travel through this road.
In this regard, Executive Engineer of Madaripur Roads and Public Ways Department, Nazmul Hasan said, once the land acquisition process is completed, road widening work can be started. A Development Project Proposal (DPP) has already been formulated. We are waiting for the decision of who will finance the construction of the road. It is hoped that it will be possible to start the work on the development of the road very soon.
Ayesha Siddiqa Akashi/SR/ASM
#suffering #narrow #roads