The Laxmipur-Noakhali regional highway is in a deteriorated condition with numerous potholes and craters making travel difficult for passengers.
For the last six years, the stretch from Raipur's Boader to Chandraganj, covering approximately 30 kilometers, has remained in poor condition due to the lack of repairs. The situation is worsened by overloaded sand-carrying trucks, which are contributing to the further degradation of the road.
Since 2018, the situation has worsened, especially around Boader in Chandpur, with increasing numbers of potholes and craters. Some sections have no bitumen at all, while others have damaged or eroded layers. In some areas, the road has been reduced to an uneven surface, with bitumen and layers forming 'mounds' of debris.
This road is used by various transport services, including buses, trucks, and motorbikes, traveling between Laxmipur, Noakhali, Bhola, and Chattogram. What used to be a one-hour journey from Chandpur to Noakhali has now extended to almost three hours. Locals have called for immediate repairs to alleviate the suffering caused by these road conditions.
Motorcycle driver Shariful Islam Majumdar said, "The road from Raipur's Boader to Dalal Bazaar used to take 30 minutes to cover, but now it takes 1 to 1.5 hours. This causes constant accidents and passengers suffer immensely."
Truck driver Rahim explained, "The problem arises because of the overloaded hydraulic trucks, which damage the road. The necessary road layers haven't been properly applied, and that leads to the road breaking apart. I only drive during the day and avoid night trips."
The poor condition of the road is also hazardous for buses traveling to Cox's Bazar. BRTA driver Farid said, "The state of the road is not suitable for driving. The uneven surfaces risk accidents, and it causes damage to the vehicle bearings. After a day of driving, I can hardly drive the next day due to fatigue and body aches."
Accidents are frequent due to vehicles falling into potholes, causing vehicle springs and steering joints to break. This results in severe inconvenience for both drivers and passengers. Drivers are calling for repairs and the conversion of the road into a four-lane highway to accommodate the increasing traffic.
CNG driver Rabbiul Islam stated, "Our only demand from the road department is that the road be upgraded to four lanes. The condition is unbearable, with large potholes and eroded asphalt. Accidents happen daily, and traffic jams are constant, especially in Raipur and Dalaal Bazaar."
If the overloaded sand-carrying trucks along the road are not regulated, the road will continue to deteriorate even after repairs. The road department has confirmed that repairs are in progress.
A survey has been conducted for the four-laning of the Chandpur-Laxmipur-Noakhali highway, but the project is not expected to materialize anytime soon, according to the Laxmipur Road and Highways Department.
The Executive Engineer of the Laxmipur Roads and Highways Department, Zahirul Islam, could not be reached for further details on Sunday afternoon.
It is worth mentioning that after a DO letter issued on 22 April 2022, the project received progress. During a meeting on 28 May 2023 at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar National Economic Council (NEC) conference room, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the development of the four-lane road from Laxmipur Inter-District Bus Stand to Begumganj-Chaurasta, as well as other regional road upgrades. The estimated cost for these projects is 14,337 crore 38 lakh Taka, with the government covering a substantial portion of the expenses.
Despite this approval, local residents are calling for swift action to address the deteriorating condition of the road and to ensure the timely completion of the four-laning project.
