Commuters suffer for deplorable road at Nageshwari Upazila

NAGESHWARI, KURIGRAM, Oct 24: The Bus Stand-Wapda Road in Nageshwari has become almost impassable due to numerous potholes, with minor and major accidents occurring regularly and commuters suffering greatly.

The road connects Nageshwari Upazila headquarters with Kochakata, Kedar, Ballaverkhas and Narayanpur unions in Purba Dudh Kumar, as well as parts of Bamandanga. It also serves a large population in Berubari Union in Paschim Dudh Kumar and areas including Bamandanga, Wapda Bazar, Pateswari, Mominganj, Boyaler Dara, Harir Pat, Bhaishatuli, Bhushitari, Fakirtari, Baniapara, Masterpara, Chowbari and Poyradanga. Residents of Kaliganj, Bhitorband and Nun Khawa unions also use the road.

The road has gone unrepaired for a long time. The movement of unregistered trolleys and tractors carrying bricks has damaged its surface, leaving numerous potholes that continue to grow deeper.

Pedestrians risk twisting their ankles when their feet get caught in the holes, while vehicles sometimes overturn. Even cautious passengers feel as though they are travelling along a bumpy mountain road.

The situation worsens during rainfall, when water accumulates in the potholes. Pedestrians risk slipping and twisting their ankles, while vehicles may overturn, leaving passengers covered in mud. Students often return home with their books and notebooks soaked.

Nazmul Islam, Bulu Mia, Altaf Hossain and several other regular commuters said the road had become a death trap.

Many people travelling from distant areas take longer routes to reach Nageshwari to avoid the suffering, they said, demanding urgent repairs to the important road.

Upazila Engineer MA Wahed said a tender had already been floated under the Amphan project for repairing the road and a contractor had been appointed.

“We have sent a letter to the contractor asking them to start work as soon as possible to ease people's suffering,” he said.