The road connecting Nageshwari Bus Terminal with Wapda Bazar in Bherubari Union of Kurigram's Nageshwari upazila has deteriorated severely, with potholes and broken sections making travel increasingly hazardous. Frequent accidents have been reported as the road has remained in poor condition for a prolonged period without adequate repairs.
The road is riddled with large potholes and uneven surfaces, leaving commuters struggling to travel safely. Local residents say the deteriorating condition has created serious difficulties for thousands of people, including office workers, school, college and madrasa students, and people from various professions who regularly use the route.
Although the road was repaired several years ago, it has once again fallen into disrepair. During the rainy season, travelling along the route becomes particularly difficult.
Residents also blame the unrestricted movement of unregistered brick-carrying trucks and tractors for contributing to the road's deterioration. The damaged surface has made it difficult for small vehicles, including rickshaws, vans, auto-rickshaws, mishuks, easy bikes and motorcycles, to move along the road.
Large potholes across much of the route frequently cause accidents involving drivers and passengers. Students attending schools, colleges and madrasas often struggle to reach their educational institutions on time. Even transporting critically ill patients to hospitals can become dangerous because of the road's condition.
Local residents, including Nazmul Islam, Bulu Mia and Altaf Hossain of the Wapda Bazar area, said commuters have been suffering considerably because of the damaged road.
They also highlighted the health problems caused by excessive dust. According to them, people returning home after travelling along the road often find their clean clothes covered in dust. The dust pollution also exposes residents to various health problems, including colds, coughs and asthma. Accidents involving passengers and pedestrians are another recurring concern.
Shafiqul Islam, a local businessman, said thousands of people use the road on Mondays and Thursdays when Nageshwari weekly markets are held.
Businesspeople, farmers and people from different professions travel along the route carrying agricultural produce and other essential goods to buy and sell at the markets.
He said the deteriorated road makes transportation extremely difficult. As a result, many traders and farmers cannot bring their goods to market on time, causing them to lose the opportunity to sell their products at fair prices.
Local residents and traders are now calling for urgent repairs to the road to restore safe and smooth transportation.
Contacted on the matter, Upazila Engineer M.A. Wahed said a tender had already been floated for the road repair work under the Amphan project and a contractor had been appointed.
"We have issued a letter to the contractor instructing them to start the work as soon as possible and alleviate the suffering of local people, Insha'Allah," he said.
