With numerous potholes and cracks, the two-km-long road from Ghukarna to Chandalkhil area of Brahmanbaria town remains virtually off-limits to vehicles, thanks to the negligence of the authorities of the 'A' category municipality.

Around five thousand people of Chandalkhil, Chhoto-Ghukarna and Aminpur villages including students of a government primary school, a kindergarten, two madrasas and two nearby high schools regularly use the road, said locals and municipality officials.

This correspondent during his recent visit saw a number of potholes on the road while the bricks-soling was badly damaged, even non-existent at places.

A few ducks were moving as rainwater gathered in potholes created puddles.

Another scene of the two-km-long road. Photo: Star

"First made as a dirt road 30 years ago, it got brick-soling 12 years ago. But it became unfit for vehicular movement after a few years as large cracks and potholes appeared all over due to lack of repair," said Nasir Mia, a distinguished dweller of Chandalkhil village.

"It is difficult to take any patient to a town hospital through the badly damaged road. Our sufferings mount during the monsoon. In spite of repeated assurance, the authorities did not come forward to develop the road," Mufti Obaidullah Ashraf, principal of Chandalkhil Sirajbag Madrasa, told this correspondent.

Enamul Hasan, a college student of the area, said, "We have to take a troublesome walk on the damaged road for moving up to the main road to go to college as vehicles can't ply this road. Before elections, the aspirants give assurance of repairing the road, but they forget it afterwards."

​Contacted, Kawser Ahmed, assistant engineer of the municipality, said, "Repairing the road is an urgent need but at the moment the authority has no budget for it. The matter will be discussed in the next monthly meeting."

Municipality Mayor Nayar Kabir, said, "I will get an estimate made by our engineers and arrange tender for repairing the road after the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic eases."