A section of the Lakshmipur-Noakhali highway has turned hazardous with deep potholes and damaged surfaces, causing frequent accidents, vehicle breakdowns and severe delays for commuters.
The 18-kilometre stretch from Chandraganj to Lakshmipur Sadar has become the worst affected, with large craters, stagnant water, mud and debris making travel risky.
A journey that normally takes around 30 minutes now often requires two to three hours.
Thousands of vehicles, including buses, trucks, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and cars, use the busy highway every day.
Many vehicles reportedly get stuck after falling into potholes, while some suffer mechanical failures on the damaged road.
Over the past three months, at least 15 accidents on the stretch have left around 20 people injured or killed, according to locals.
Passengers and drivers said they face constant risks while travelling on the road, particularly due to heavy hydraulic trucks that have further damaged the surface.
“Driving has become extremely difficult. Vehicles often get damaged and passengers remain anxious about accidents,” said a local driver.
Residents also alleged that although four-lane expansion work is underway, contractors are not following proper guidelines.
They claimed water is not sprayed regularly to control dust and that construction materials are not being used according to specifications.
They demanded immediate repairs to make the road usable while the development project continues.
The poor condition of the highway also drew criticism at a recent monthly law and order meeting, where Lakshmipur-3 lawmaker and Water Resources Minister Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anee instructed authorities to take quick action.
Lakshmipur Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Md Nazrul Islam said work was underway to upgrade the highway into a four-lane road.
“The contractor has been instructed to repair the damaged sections quickly. If any irregularities are found, action will be taken after investigation,” he said.
