Photo : BSS

By Jeeten Barua

KHAGRACHHARI, Nov 10, 2025 (BSS) - The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has implemented a Taka 35.63 crore renovation and widening project on the Khagrachhari-Dighinala-Sajek road — a long-awaited development expected to end decades of suffering for locals and tourists traveling along this treacherous route.

For more than three decades, the narrow and sharply curved 18-kilometer stretch between Khagrapur in Khagrachhari district headquarters and Dighinala bus station has been notorious for accidents, earning a grim reputation as a “death trap.” 

The ongoing project aims to widen the road by six feet on both sides, improving safety and easing traffic congestion.

Executive Engineer of the department Md. Maksudur Rahman told BSS that the work order has already been issued following the tender process, and expansion work is underway.

“The Khagrachhari-Dighinala road is an important communication link. Along with small and large vehicles, many tourist vehicles also use this route. To prevent accidents, 18 kilometers of the road will be widened. If all goes as planned, the work will be completed by March 2026,”
he said.

According to the Khagrachhari Public Works Department, the existing road — constructed in 1980 — has long been too narrow for today’s heavy traffic flow. Trucks, buses, and tourist jeeps frequently face difficulties navigating the steep and winding sections. 

With growing tourist activity to Sajek Valley, one of the region’s top destinations, vehicle pressure on the road has increased, worsening delays and accidents.

Local residents expressed relief that the long-standing demand for road widening is finally being fulfilled.
Pratibha Tripura, a teacher at Dighinala Hasinsonpur Government Primary School, said, “I’m always scared while walking my child to school along the roadside. When two cars come from opposite directions, we have to step off the road to give way. A wider road would make it safer for pedestrians and students.”

Former Union Parishad member Ganesh Tripura from Dighinala’s Nayamile area shared similar concerns.

“Trucks carrying bamboo and wood often get into accidents on the bends. Passenger buses also face frequent mishaps. Once the road is widened, our long-standing suffering will finally end,” he said.

Local jeep driver Md. Jasim Uddin echoed that sentiment, saying vehicles often have to leave the road entirely to let larger ones pass. “Because of the curves and narrowness, accidents happen all the time. The widening will benefit everyone,” he added.

Chander Gari (jeep) drivers Pradeep Tripura and Nimai Debnath said that the 18-kilometer road has over 60 bends and can take nearly an hour to travel. “Vehicle pressure here is several times higher than on other district roads. Once widened, travel time will be shorter and safer,” they said.

Khagrachhari Road Transport Owners Group President Md. Aslam Kalu highlighted that the district’s highways are usually 18 feet wide, but this crucial route is only 12 feet across.

“Accidents often occur because of excessive curves and narrow lanes. Widening the road will reduce the number of bends and make driving easier and safer,” he said.

Officials and residents hope that the Taka 35-crore project will not only improve transport safety and reduce accidents but also boost tourism and trade in Khagrachhari, Dighinala, and Sajek — transforming one of the region’s most dangerous roads into a gateway for development and connectivity.