Potholes plague Dhaka-Ctg highway at Sonargaon

SONARGAON, NARAYANGANJ, July 19:  A 14-kilometre stretch of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj's Sonargaon has become riddled with potholes following days of heavy rainfall, significantly increasing the risk of road accidents and causing severe hardship for commuters.

The damaged section extends from Kanchpur Bridge to Meghna Bridge, where the road surface has deteriorated at numerous locations after the bituminous layer peeled off. Small and large potholes have emerged along the highway, forcing thousands of vehicles to navigate hazardous conditions every day.

A recent visit to the area found badly damaged sections at Kanchpur Bridge, Chengain, Madanpur, Keodhala, Langalband, Sonakhali, Darikandi, Tipurdi, Habibpur, Mograpara Chowrasta, Pirojpur, Chengakandi, Mridhakandi, Nayagaon, Ashariarchar and the Meghna Toll Plaza. In many places, rainwater has filled the potholes, making it difficult for drivers to judge their depth and turning them into hidden hazards, particularly for vehicles travelling at high speed.

The Dhaka-Chattogram highway is one of the country's busiest transport corridors, connecting the capital with Chattogram and several districts in the southeast. It also carries a large number of trucks, covered vans and container vehicles serving the industrial belt of Narayanganj. Road users fear that even a small pothole could trigger a serious accident.

Drivers were seen changing lanes abruptly to avoid potholes, increasing the risk of collisions with following vehicles. Heavy trucks sway violently after hitting damaged sections, while motorcyclists are facing the greatest danger. Slow movement of buses and trucks at several points has also led to traffic congestion.

Local residents said the road condition had deteriorated rapidly after continuous rainfall. Potholes that were previously small have expanded due to constant pressure from heavy vehicles.
Truck driver Motin Mia said driving on the highway had become extremely difficult.

"At night, when potholes are submerged in rainwater, they are almost impossible to detect. We often have to brake suddenly or swerve to avoid them," he said.

He also alleged that slow-moving vehicles in damaged sections become easy targets for highway robbers during late-night hours in areas already known for criminal activity.

Private car driver Jamil Hossain said deep potholes were damaging vehicle suspensions and tyres, while passengers on long-distance buses described the journey as increasingly unsafe and uncomfortable.

Local people blamed poor drainage for allowing rainwater to remain on the road surface for extended periods, weakening the pavement. They also criticised repeated patchwork repairs, saying temporary maintenance with stone chips and bitumen usually fails within days.

Abdur Rahim, Executive Engineer of the Narayanganj Roads and Highways Department, said prolonged rainfall, overloaded vehicles and heavy traffic were the main reasons behind the road damage.

He explained that rainwater seeps through cracks in the pavement and weakens the base and sub-base layers, making the road vulnerable to damage under the weight of heavy vehicles.

He said emergency patching work was underway at the most dangerous locations to keep traffic moving safely, while permanent repairs would be carried out once weather conditions improve.