Just two days after the paving of a road in front of the Chandina Municipality office in Cumilla, multiple cracks developed on the road, raising questions over the quality of the development work.
Though the concerned engineer of the municipality and the contractor claimed that the cracks would not impact the durability of the road, locals blamed the use of substandard materials behind the faults that surfaced.
Attempts were made to cover the cracks with a layer of cement, but those remained noticeable.
The municipality developed the road with reinforced cement concrete (RCC), costing around Tk 2 crore, funded from its own revenue and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The road carries significance as it connects the municipality office from various parts of Chandina.
Despite the visible damage, Chandina Municipality’s Assistant Engineer Md. Sajjad Hasan defended the contractor, claiming the cracks were minor and referring to them as “hairline cracks.”
He asserted that all materials had been used in the correct proportions.
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According to locals, the road connects Chandina-Rammohan and Chandina-Srimantapur roads, making it a vital link for residents.
Last year, the municipality invited tenders for its development while one Sumi Enterprise won the contract, letting them begin the construction work following the country’s political changeover.
The 1,480 ft long and 18 ft wide road was paved on February 19 and 22 with a 10 inch thick concrete layer.
A site inspection revealed that after the paving, the road was covered with water and water hyacinths—a common practice to prevent rapid drying. However, despite the precautions, cracks still appeared.
Expressing concern over the road’s longevity, local Abul Hossain said, “It’s a brand-new road, and it has already cracked. I doubt it will last long.”
Preferring anonymity, a local tile shop owner observed that a heavy 10-tonne covered van often unloads tiles near his warehouse by the road. “If it’s already cracking, how will it withstand heavy vehicles?” he questioned.
Refuting the allegation, the contracting farm’s owner Md. Selim claimed that there is no way the road could crack within three to four days. These are minor surface cracks caused when the concrete absorbs water. A simple layer of cement will fix them.
Echoing Selim, municipality’s engineer Sajjad said that Tk 1.91 crore had been allocated for the project and that the cracks were only superficial. “Applying a cement and water layer will resolve the issue. This road will last 25–26 years without any problems,” he claimed.
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However, Chandina Municipality Administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nazia Hossain acknowledged the issue, saying, “Yes, there are cracks. Some areas need to be redone. The upazila engineer is monitoring the situation, and we will ensure proper work before clearing any payments.”