Highways Division seeks Tk 2 billion to fix flood-damaged roads

Rains and floods have damaged more than 2,000km of roads in Bangladesh, which prompted the Road Transport and Highways Division to seek a Tk 2 billion fun.

Roads, small bridges and culverts have been damaged, in some cases totally washed away, across the country this year.

According to field officers, as many as 255 roads in nine regions have been affected.

In a letter to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry earlier this month, the division said almost Tk 1.94 billion is needed immediately to fix the broken infrastructure.

Last year, the Road Transport and Highways Division sought Tk 1.2 billion from the government to repair roads damaged in floods and excessive rains.

A total of 2,030.18km roads have been damaged, say officials of the division adding it's an initial finding and they will get the full picture after a second screening in November.

"A final study will be conducted when the flooding is over," the division’s Chief Engineer Ibne Alam Hasan told bdnews24.com.

He said the damage was extensive as vehicles plied submerged highways.

"Our roads are bituminous and water is a key cause of asphalt failure. Clogged floodwater and traffic movement on it added to the damage," said Hasan adding the collapse of drainage systems was also a key factor.

"For the last five to six months, it has been raining and it's still going on."

Replying to a query, he said the damage this time was more than before.

"Floods have washed away many roads. In some cases, new bridges and culverts are needed."
Funds sought by region

Region	Amount (in million Tk)
Sylhet	524
Rangpur	177.4
Rajshahi	376
Gopalganj	466
Dhaka	21
Mymensingh	128.4
Khulna	30.5
Comilla	5
Chittagong	215