WITHIN a year of completion, overloaded lorries and high number of vehicles plying have created ruts on the expanded Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Twice as many vehicles than the projected number are using the highway, considered the lifeline of the country’s economy, according to a government evaluation report.
The authorities are now considering an expensive project to repair the highway. The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) in the report observed that everyday about 32,000 vehicles use the highway. During the launch of the project back in 2006, the authorities estimated 16,485 vehicles would use it daily.
This highway was opened in sections since 2013 before its formal completion in June, 2017. The Roads and Highways Division (RHD) went for the 190km road project between Cumilla’s Daudkandi and Chattogram City Gate but the project was amended thrice jacking up the cost to Tk 3,439 crore from Tk 2,168 crore.
Now, the authorities are using their regular maintenance fund to finance the patch-up work. The highway was upgraded from two lanes to four lanes for quicker and smoother transportation of goods and passengers. But it failed to achieve economic target.
Major highways built elsewhere, e.g. the EU, last for 40 years–they are designed to last that long. In Europe, the authorities dictate only how long a highway should last under what conditions, and contractors are left to their own devices to deal with the challenges. This stimulates innovation and forces contractors to be thoughtful, resulting in a longer lifetime for the road.
But in Bangladesh it’s the opposite. Contractors are not fined if roads self-destruct only a year or two after completing repairs–when the international standard varies from 5-12 years. When public funds are used there must be accountability. No contractor should be given jobs if their repairs don’t last a minimum of 5 years or such.
When the rest of the world is already looking into self healing asphalt to extend the lifetime of the roads we are stuck in the Stone Age. There must be proper incentives for contractors so that they don’t skimp on quality materials. We should select the ones who will guarantee the highest road longevity. We can’t afford to continuously repair the highways.
