Home ›› 29 Aug 2022 ›› Nation
The construction of a girder bridge over the Madhukhali canal at Mithaganj union of Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila has been left incomplete for several years, causing immense suffering for hundreds of people of the locality.
In 2018, due to the dilapidated condition of the iron bridge on the canal, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) undertook an initiative to demolish it and build a new girder bridge.
The 45-metre bridge is being constructed under the government’s “long bridge construction on upazila and union roadways project” to improve communication.
Two construction companies Kashem Construction and Palli Stores jointly got the work through tender and began work in the same year.
The construction work of the girder bridge’s main body has been completed, but the approach roads are yet to be constructed. The road construction stopped after landfilling was completed on one side of the bridge.
According to the tender agreement, construction cost of this Tk 3.27 crore bridge was supposed to be completed by 2019.
The deadline has already been extended twice, but Kalapara upazila LGED could not confirm when the work will be completed.
Meanwhile, in the absence of the connecting bridge, residents of the Mithaganj union are suffering. The locals have built a temporary bamboo bridge to cross the canal which is very risky for children and elder people. Hundreds of school-going children have to cross the canal taking risk of life.
There is no alternative for the students of Madukhali Secondary School, Madukhali Girls Secondary School, Madukhali Dakhil Madrasa, and Madukhali Government Primary School to travel via this route every day.
Mizanur Rahman Mizan, a resident of Madukhali village, said that due to the condition of the bridge, the farmers are unable to take their produced rice and vegetables to the market for sale.
“Children and old people have to cross the bamboo platform with great difficulty. The people of the surrounding ten villages have been suffering for the last three years due to the incomplete bridge,” he said.
Md Aktaruzzaman, assistant headmaster of Madukhali Secondary School, said, “The students do not want to come to school in fear of falling into the canal and getting injured as that has happened before. I hope that the government will finish the construction of the bridge soon.”
Golam Sarwar Badal, the owner of Kashem Construction, one of the bridge construction contractors, said the work of the girder bridge is almost done. But work on the connecting road is still pending.
“The LGED made a mistake in picking the site for construction. One side of the connecting road has to be built right beside a pond,” he said, adding that this problem would not have occurred if the new bridge was built exactly where the old one was.
Kalapara Upazila Parishad Chairman SM Rakibul Ahsan said when the deputy commissioner of Patuakhali was informed about the problem, he sent the additional deputy commissioner to inspect the site.
“I expect they will take action soon according to the ADC’s report,” he said.
Kalapara LGED Engineer Md Mohor Ali said, “The work of the Madukhali Bridge is progressing slowly. Girders and spans have been installed, and only the approaching roads have to be constructed.”
He also said they cannot confirm when the bridge will be completed adding that he has sent several letters to the contractors urging them to finish the remaining work quickly.
