Khairul Alam : Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive destroyed by sea waves in Teknaf stretch. When the tide comes, this erosion increases in dozens of small and big places. Due to this, there is a possibility of sinking the entire road.
If the broken section is not repaired soon, the Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar on Marine Drive will be cut off from under the road, fear tourism concerns and commuters.
About half a hundred meters of road was washed away in the West Munder Dale area of Sabrang Union of Teknaf in the morning tide on Thursday (August 3). Earlier, the rising tidal water in Teknaf’s Baharchara, Hadurchara, South Munder Dale area for the last two days damaged Marine Drive at several places.
Local residents say that due to adverse weather, the height of sea water is increasing more than normal. Due to the rising tide, the geo bags installed to protect the road have become weak. Meanwhile, the sea is swallowing many parts of the road by submerging the geo bags.
According to them, sand is taken from an area very close to the road to fill the land and fill geo bags, so even a slight rise in sea level leaves the road at risk of erosion.
Abdul Qadir (55), a local resident, said that such erosion had never happened before on Marine Drive. As the sea wave height is increasing, the waves are getting bigger and hitting Marine Drive.
Road erosion is taking place due to geo bags placed on top of the waves rising on the road.
Mohammad Saleem, member of Ward No. 1 of Sabrang Union Council, said that due to the sea waves, there has been extensive erosion at many places on Marine Drive. Compared to other times, this erosion is worrying.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohd Kamruzzaman said the height of sea tide is higher than normal due to adverse weather conditions. The Teknaf part of Marine Drive has been washed away at some places due to the rising water. The army is already starting work to stop the erosion.
The 80 km long Marine Drive road built along the coast from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf at a cost of thousands of taka was inaugurated on May 6, 2017. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated the road.
However, after the approval of this road project in 1991-92, the construction work started. This Road is one of the most attractive places in the tourism industry of the country.