Poor Road Work Sparks Public Protest in Koyra

Allegations of substandard construction have triggered public outrage and halted work on a road rehabilitation project in the Maharaajpur Union of Koyra Upazila in Khulna, where newly laid asphalt is reportedly peeling off under light pressure just days after application.

Locals say the one-kilometre stretch from Madarbariya North Border to Ronbag has been resurfaced using poor-quality materials and improper techniques, raising serious questions about oversight and execution. Residents claim that instead of proper road base preparation, soil and debris were left in place, followed by a thin layer of bitumen applied over uneven and unclean surfaces.

The situation escalated on Tuesday afternoon when frustrated residents intervened and stopped ongoing work on the remaining section of the road. Their decision came after witnessing fresh carpeting being laid on dusty and unstable ground conditions.

The project, valued at approximately 2.63 crore taka, is being implemented under a rural infrastructure development scheme by the Local Government Engineering Department. It also includes construction of an RCC box culvert and improvement of another 1.5 kilometres of road in the Bedkashi area under a single contract package. The contract was awarded to a private firm, M/s Kamrul and Brothers, following a tender process in February 2024.

According to the original schedule, work was expected to begin in early April 2024 and be completed by November the same year. However, residents allege that the project remained largely idle for months before being rushed towards completion as the contract deadline and billing period approached.

Field observations suggest visible cracks and surface peeling on multiple sections of the newly carpeted road. In several spots, residents demonstrated how the asphalt layer could be lifted with minimal force. Locals also reported that no visible project signboard was installed, and supervision from relevant authorities was absent during key stages of construction.

Concerns have also been raised over the use of construction materials. Residents claim that instead of proper stone chips and clean aggregates, broken bricks, recycled road debris and soil were used as base materials. They further allege that even a proper priming coat was not applied before laying the bitumen layer.

A local elected representative, expressing frustration over the quality of work, said the project had been compromised from the beginning due to poor materials and lack of supervision. He noted that work on the remaining portion was halted after residents intervened.

A resident living beside the road described visible damage occurring during compaction, stating that cracks appeared immediately after roller use, particularly near a low-lying section adjacent to a canal. He warned that the road could suffer serious damage during the upcoming monsoon season if construction practices are not corrected.

A contractor representative, however, rejected allegations of poor workmanship, insisting that the work is being carried out in accordance with departmental guidelines under the supervision of engineers. He claimed that what residents perceive as defects is part of the multi-layer construction process, adding that additional finishing layers are still pending.

Meanwhile, an assistant engineer from the local office of the Local Government Engineering Department acknowledged concerns regarding the absence of a proper priming coat and said the matter is under review. He added that field inspections would be conducted and necessary action taken if irregularities are confirmed.