A key road in Barguna’s Amtali upazila has collapsed within a month of being renovated at a cost of more than Tk 8 crore.

The five-kilometre road stretches from Amtali AK Government High School to Talukdarhat area. Renovation work was completed in early July, but around 200 feet of the road caved in at Kalibari area in the first week of August.

No repair work has yet begun, according to locals.

They expressed concern that unless prompt repairs are carried out, the road could sustain further damage and sever road communication between Amtali upazila town and Chawra and Haldia unions.

According to the Amtali upazila office of the Local Government Engineering Department, the department recently completed renovation work on the road under the 2023-24 fiscal year at a cost of Tk 8.78 crore.

Rajshahi-based Barendra Construction was awarded the project tender as the lowest bidder.

Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan, chairman of Chawra Union Parishad, took over the work as a sub-contractor.

Locals have put up makeshift safety barriers using bamboo poles and red cloth around the collapsed section. Despite the danger, pickup vans, goods-laden trucks and hundreds of auto-rickshaws continue to use the road.

Mamun Radhi, a local, said vehicular movement has become extremely risky.

“The rest of the road could also collapse at any time,” he added.

Al Amin, a trader at Talukdarhat Bazar, said unless prompt repairs are carried out, road communication could be disrupted for around 15,000 people in Haldia and Chawra unions.

Contacted, Akhtaruzzaman Badal said they would repair the collapsed section soon.

Md Idris Ali, an engineer at the Amtali LGED office, said, “The road collapsed as soil underneath was washed away by the strong current in the Kalibari canal.”

“We have informed the higher authorities about the matter. Steps will be taken soon.”