Home ›› 25 Dec 2022 ›› Nation
Allegations of irregularities have been raised over the quality of construction of the six km GC road from Malibag to Sheikhpura under Cyclone Amphan and Flood Damaged Rural Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (CAFDRIRP) in Rupsha upazila of Khulna.
Locals alleged within two weeks of the completion of the work, the carpeting of the road has come off making it impassable.
To cover up the issue, the carpeting is being repaired with a lacklustre effort. This has led to displeasure among the residents.
According to Rupsa Upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Contractor Company M/s Akon Trading and Company and M/s SR Traders got the work order for six km GC road on March 23, 2022.
According to the contract, the estimated budget was Tk 6,21,45,000 for the six km road and the targeted completion period was February 9, 2023.
After receiving the project contract, the contractor company dug up the way, laid sand and gravel macadam pavement and left it for a long time. There have been allegations of using substandard and old rubble bricks for macadaming and using low-grade bricks for roadside piling.
The macadam pavement became damaged due to being left without tar carpeting for a long time. After a while, the carpeting was done in a hurry with a minimal prime coating.
Within two weeks, the carpeting came off in several places leaving dents on the road. Locals allege that the contractors are repairing the damaged road with low-quality materials and the road will get damaged again soon.
Seeking anonymity, a van driver in the upazila said the road was left with macadam pavement without any tar carpeting for a long time.
Two college students in the area said they could not protest the misconduct while the work was ongoing as they were threatened by local political leaders.
In this regard, a local resident said the contractors fixed the damaged spots that had occurred within two weeks of the completion of construction. But the repair work is not sufficient and it will soon get damaged again.
On condition of anonymity, a source in the upazila administration said the owner of the contracting company Shahidul Islam took advantage of his close relationship with the recently transferred district executive engineer. Shahidul completed the work halfheartedly with haste and collected the bill.
When contacted regarding the matter contractor Shahidul Islam said there was no error in the work on their part.
“The road got damaged due to the movement of overloaded vehicles while the work was in progress. It is being rectified as per the instructions of the higher authorities,” he added.
Rupsa Upazila Engineer SM Wahiduzzaman said, “After the complaint was made, senior officers inspected the construction work. A letter has been issued to the contractor for the re-repair of the work. They are fixing the damaged areas.”
AKM Anisuzzaman, Executive Engineer of Khulna LGED said he went to inspect the project after receiving complaints. “I have given written notice to the contractor to correct the quality of work,” he added.
