Paved roads transform rural life at Kalai

KALAI, JOYPURHAT, Sept 11: Paving-block and RCC roads built through the paddy fields of Mulgram and Sitahar-Nayapara areas of Kalai Municipality have eased transportation and transformed the rural landscape.

The roads have replaced muddy paths that once made movement difficult during the monsoon. Farmers previously struggled to transport paddy and vegetables from their fields, while residents faced difficulties reaching schools, markets and hospitals.

Around one kilometre of RCC and paving-block roads has been built in Mulgram and Sitahar-Nayapara, while another 900 metres inside Mulgram has been paved with blocks. The two roads cost around Tk 1.25 crore.

Rows of betel nut trees, solar-powered streetlights and roadside benches have also been installed, making the roads more attractive and convenient for residents.

Local farmers said vehicles can now reach close to their fields, reducing transportation time, labour and costs.

“Previously, even vans and auto-vans could not enter our neighbourhood during the monsoon because of deep mud. Now vans, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and even ambulances can easily reach us,” said local farmers and traders.

Farmers Sultan, Masud, Helal and Shahinur said they previously had to struggle to bring produce out of the fields.

“Now vehicles can reach close to the fields, significantly reducing our transportation costs,” they said.

According to Kalai Municipality, around Tk 28 crore has been spent over the past year on infrastructure development, including 18 kilometres of roads and five kilometres of drains, with funding from the government and the World Bank.

The projects are benefiting around 23,663 residents, municipal officials said.

Naushad,  Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer in Kalai, said the municipality has around 1,310 hectares of land, including 815 hectares of cropland.

Md Abdul Wahab Sakhidar, Assistant Professor and head of the Economics Department at Kalai Government Women's College, said improved roads were saving farmers at least Tk 1,000 per bigha in transportation costs.

The 815 hectares of cropland are equivalent to around 6,112 bighas. As most farmland produces three crops a year, farmers could save around Tk 1.83 crore annually in transportation costs, he said.

He added that land prices along the new roads had also increased. Land previously priced at Tk 30,000-40,000 per decimal now sells for around Tk 1.2-1.3 lakh in some areas.

Saiful Islam, Executive Engineer of Kalai Municipality, said 35 development projects were being implemented under a sustainable and modern plan.

“We have planted 2,500 betel nut trees along the roads. The trees are environmentally friendly and do not harm crops,” he said.
If each tree produces an average of 600 fruits twice a year and each fruit sells for at least Tk 5, the municipality could earn around Tk 75 lakh annually from the trees, he added.

The municipality plans to follow the same environment-friendly and revenue-generating model in future projects, officials said.