Allegations of Substandard Road Works Spark Local Protest

Serious allegations of irregularities have surfaced over the renovation and widening of a one-kilometre road stretching from Madarbariya North boundary to Ronbag in Maherajpur Union under Koyra upazila in Khulna. Locals claim that poor-quality construction materials and disregard for standard engineering procedures have led to premature deterioration of the newly laid surface within days of completion.

According to residents, the work was poorly executed from the outset. They allege that the existing road surface was not properly cleared of mud and debris before the application of asphalt materials. Instead, a thin layer of bituminous substance was reportedly spread over the unprepared surface. In several sections, broken bricks, construction waste, and substandard stone chips were allegedly used, raising concerns about durability and safety.

The consequences became visible almost immediately. Within three days, sections of the new carpeting began to peel off under minimal pressure, with some areas crumbling under foot traffic. On Tuesday afternoon, local residents intervened and halted ongoing work on the remaining portion of the road, expressing frustration over what they described as repeated negligence.

Officials from the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in the upazila stated that the road improvement project falls under a rural infrastructure development scheme. The wider project includes the construction of a box culvert and approximately 1.5 kilometres of additional road upgrades in the Bedkashi area. The total estimated cost stands at around Tk 26.39 million, with M/s Kamrul and Brothers contracted to carry out the work.

The project was originally scheduled to commence on 3 April 2024 and conclude by 14 November 2024. However, locals allege that delayed commencement has resulted in rushed execution as the deadline approaches, potentially compromising quality standards.

A site visit on Tuesday revealed multiple cracks and loose surfaces in freshly laid sections. In several places, the top layer appeared detached, while no project signboard indicating details of the work was visible along the stretch. No responsible representative from the contracting firm or supervising officials were present at the site during inspection hours.

A local Union Parishad member, Jamal Faruk, said concerns had been raised from the beginning regarding the quality of materials and workmanship. He alleged that insufficient preparation of the base layer and inadequate use of bituminous materials had led to the current condition, adding that residents were compelled to stop the work.

Local resident Md Shahidul expressed concern that weak compaction in low-lying sections had already resulted in visible cracking during rolling. He warned that the affected portions could deteriorate further during the upcoming monsoon season, potentially leading to structural failure.

In response, a representative of the contracting firm, Md Hasan, rejected the allegations, stating that the construction was being carried out in accordance with approved procedures and in stages. He argued that superficial loosening in certain areas was being misinterpreted and insisted that subsequent layering would address the issues.

An engineer from the upazila LGED office acknowledged that initial complaints regarding irregularities had been received. He added that a field investigation would be conducted to verify the allegations, and appropriate action would follow based on the findings.