About half of the Kumargaon-Badaghat-Airport four-lane road construction project in Sylhet is yet incomplete after one and a half year of the project deadline.
Initiated in 2022, the project was initially set to complete within two and a half years, with a target completion in June 2023.
However, following several delays, the project’s deadline has now been extended by another two years, pushing the completion date to June 2026.
Despite this extension, the overall progress has been sluggish, with only 50-60 per cent of the work completed to date.
The road project, covering a stretch of approximately 12 kilometers, has faced significant land acquisition challenges.
Out of the planned land acquisition for six kilometers of the road, the department has yet to acquire any land.
Officials involved in the project claim that while land acquisition issues persist, alternative land acquisition processes are underway, and the work will be completed within six months once these issues are resolved.
Meanwhile, a proposal to extend the project deadline by another two years has been sent to the ministry for approval.
The Kumargaon-Badaghat-Airport four-lane road project was initiated in response to growing concerns about the heavy traffic of stone-laden trucks passing through the city. This traffic has often resulted in fatal accidents, prompting calls for an alternative route to reduce the risks to city residents.
In response to these concerns, a 12-kilometer road was constructed between 2012 and 2014, followed by a demand from Sylhet residents to expand it to four lanes.
In 2016, the proposal for the four-lane expansion was made, and a revised plan including two service lanes was submitted in the following year. The project, which faced numerous challenges, was eventually inaugurated in 2022 by former foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen.
According to information from the Sylhet Roads and Highways Department, the project, which is expected to cost around Tk728 crore, involves the construction of rigid pavements over 11.87 kilometers, along with 0.7 kilometers of flexible pavements.
Additionally, two PC girder bridges, 24 RCC culverts, two link roads, six bus bays, an RCC drain, footpaths, and signal installations are part of the project.
However, despite the substantial investment and detailed planning, land acquisition has been a significant hurdle.
A total of 31.82 acres of land is required for the project, but disputes over land ownership and the need for compensation for landowners have resulted in delays. While two of the four land acquisition cases are nearing resolution, the other two remain stuck in legal procedures.
As the project faces further setbacks, locals have expressed frustration. Many are concerned that the continued delays will extend the city’s suffering, with residents having to wait longer for a safer and more efficient road.
Shakhawat Hossain, Project Manager of Spectra Engineers Ltd, the company overseeing the construction, stated that about 4 kilometers of the road, where no land acquisition is required, has been completed. However, work on the remaining 8 kilometers, where land acquisition issues persist, is still underway.
“Once the land acquisition issues are resolved, we expect to complete the project within six months,” he added.
Mohammad Salahuddin Sohag, Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Sylhet Roads and Highways Department, acknowledged that land acquisition challenges still exist, but expressed optimism about resolving them soon.
He confirmed that alternative land acquisition processes are ongoing, and the project is expected to be completed within the next two years.
