A fresh road constructed along the Turag river in Gazipur suffered a partial collapse prior to its official opening, merely nine days after its completion. The incident occurred in the Dhananjaykhali area of Kashimpur, where a segment approximately 10 to 12 feet in size gave way along the riverbank, sparking worries among locals regarding safety and the longevity of the Tk 11.67 crore initiative.
The road, spanning three kilometers from Kashimpur Nama Bazar to Dhandkhali village, witnessed initial cracks on Thursday before a more significant section of the structure crumbled. Upon inspection of the site yesterday, a noticeable gap was observed along the freshly constructed route where a part of the riverbank had collapsed.
Anisur Rahman, a resident of Kashimpur Barinda village, noted that the collapse had progressed over two days, stating, “Yesterday, the road collapsed by about 10 to 12 feet. Today, it collapsed by another four to five feet. In total, around 20 feet have been affected.” Concerns have risen among residents, fearing a potential further collapse into the river, which has also disrupted students of nearby schools.
The project, funded by the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) and executed by contractor UCCL, entailed the construction of 250 meters of water-bound macadam (WBM), 60 millimeters of carpeting, approximately 1.8 meters of sidewalk, as well as railings and guard walls in two phases. GCC’s Superintendent Engineer and Project Director AKM Harunur Rashid attributed the collapse to natural causes, asserting that a stretch of the road on the riverbank had crumbled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Rashid mentioned that a technical committee has been established to investigate the collapse’s cause and recommend essential actions moving forward.
