Around 117 kilometer roads and highways in Netrakona district are in dilapidated condition with numerous potholes and cracks inconveniencing movement of vehicles and thousands of pedestrians.
Locals alleged that though the roads and highways, along with some bridges and culverts, have been lying in a sorry state in many places, the authorities hardly take any steps for their repair or renovation.
For the miserable condition of the roads and highways, people in seven of the 10 upazilas of the district undergo immense suffering every day.
It has now become an urgent need that the authorities should take immediate steps to give the roads and highways back normal shape.
If the roads and highways are left uncared for this way doing no repair work, their condition will get worse, making them unfit for public use.
Roads with massive potholes that need urgent repair are treated as '' dilapidated or worse" roads, said an engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).
There are 371 kilometre roads and regional highways in Netrakona district.
According to the RHD, of the total 371 kilometre roads and highways, 117 klimometres (23.32 per cent) are in dilapidated condition.
The rest 254 kilometres roads and highways are in good or "average" condition.
Those in "average" condition will also need repair if heavy vehicles continue to ply them non-stop, said an official.
About 36 kilometre roads in Mymensingh, Netrakona and Shamganj, 20 kilometre roads in Thakurakona- Kalmakanda and two bridges and eight culverts are in dilapidated condition.
About 17 kilometre roads, one bridge and seven culverts are in sorry state in Netrakona and Purbodola-Hogla-Dhobaura.
Durgapur and Kalmakanda have 30 kilometre potholed roads. Mymensingh, Nandail, and Kendua have 12 kilometre dilapidated roads and three ramshackle culverts.
RHD Executive Engineer Hamidul Islam said," A number of projects are in progress. Pace of work has slowed down due to the outbreak of coronavirus and flood. Work of the ongoing projects may not be completed within the stipulated time."
