Patuakhali, Oct 02 (V7N)- After a long delay caused by a legal dispute, the renovation of the 11 km stretch of the main road from Pakhimara to Alipur Three Point, leading to the popular tourist center of Kuakata, has finally resumed. The prolonged pause in development had left the road in disrepair, creating dangerous gaps and making the route nearly unusable for travelers. Multiple accidents involving long-distance passenger vehicles, including the MK Dhaka, resulted in injuries due to the road's condition.

The root of the delay dates back to 2009-2014 when a contractor, Rupsa Engineers Limited, was responsible for developing the 11 km section starting from Pakhimara Bazar. Due to substandard work, the welfare department withheld the payment, prompting the contractor to file a writ petition in the High Court in 2014. The court's temporary ban on further roadwork due to the legal case halted renovations, leaving the road in its deteriorated state for years.

Recently, after the court lifted the ban, the complete renovation of the 22 km Kalapara-Kuakata road, which includes the problematic 11 km stretch, has commenced following a successful tender process. Work started last Saturday afternoon, beginning from the Hajipur point towards Pakhimara, and is expected to be completed soon.

Tourism-related business owners in Kuakata are breathing a sigh of relief as the poor condition of this highway had significantly impacted tourism. The hazardous road discouraged visitors from traveling to Kuakata, affecting local businesses dependent on tourism. Now, with the roadwork underway, the safety and accessibility of Kuakata for tourists are expected to improve, boosting local trade.

Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, a local businessman involved in tourism, expressed his optimism in a Facebook post, sharing, “Alhamdulillah, good news for tourists coming to Kuakata, the finishing work of the 12 km road to Alipur Bandar in Pakhimara-Kuakata is in full swing. We hope to soon be able to travel to Kuakata comfortably in a luxury car.” He also extended his gratitude to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and others who advocated for this critical road renovation.

The local community, including tourism organization leaders and political figures, is hopeful that the project will be completed soon, bringing an end to years of hardship and reviving Kuakata's appeal to both domestic and international tourists.

END/UK/AJ