Human Chain Demands Completion of Betagram-Koyra Road Project

Local residents and activists formed a human chain on Saturday to demand the immediate completion of the Betagram-Koyra regional highway development project. Despite five years of funding and multiple deadline extensions, the project remains stalled, particularly regarding the straightening of dangerous curves.

The protest, organized by the Paikgacha branch of "Nirapad Sarak Chai" (We Want Safe Roads), was held Saturday morning (February 28). Speakers, including branch president HM Shafiul Islam and local labor leaders, expressed frustration over delays at the Fakirbasa intersection in Kapilmuni, a vital southern commercial hub.

The activists warned that if work does not resume promptly, they will launch a larger movement. They held authorities accountable for any potential cancellation of project allocations due to these delays.

The 60-kilometer highway upgrade involves widening the road to two lanes and simplifying 34 risky bends. While 33 of these curves are proceeding without issue, work at the Fakirbasa intersection has ground to a halt. This specific delay is reportedly due to legal complications and disputes over land acquisition pricing involving approximately 11.39% of the required land.

Local traders and commuters in the Kapilmuni market area report extreme suffering due to the road's dilapidated state. With the monsoon approaching, the combination of deep potholes and sharp, unaddressed bends significantly increases the risk of accidents. Project officials stated that the entire highway development hinges on resolving the Fakirbasa bottleneck.