I came across a letter in your column a couple of days ago on national highway no.1 and felt encouraged to share my delight at the almost completed job. The life line of communication in Bangladesh is the road that links Dhaka with Chittagong. But until recently the highway had only two lanes and it was difficult to accommodate the rising volume of traffic.
The problems now are over as the highway has been expanded to four lanes from two. The travel time between the two cities has also come down to five hours from 10-15 hours. It would now save both time and money, and augment the country's export and import. Almost 75 per cent of the country's readymade garments are transported on this highway. But we shall not get the full benefit of the highway until slow-moving vehicles are barred from plying the road and enough railway overpasses, flyovers and bridges are constructed. The highway will not only contribute to the country's export and import activities, but also help reduce the sufferings of the travellers every day. We now look forward to early completion of the jobs left to ensure that the economy picks up its speed and ensure quick growth. The construction works of three four-lane bridges -Kanchpur, Meghna and Gomti -- have already started with Japanese aid. When the bridges and a flyover at Feni are built, people would get the full benefit of development. As a major road communication project, this would generate employment in construction and transport sectors, according to the Roads and Highways Department. Finally it will improve distribution of agricultural products and allow higher accessibility for the poor farmers to urban markets. It would also generate employment opportunities for the rural poor and improve their livelihoods.
H.M.A Muhit
East West University
[email protected]
- Saturday, 23 November 2024 |
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