Dilapidated rail culverts endanger passengers

Some of the railway culverts and bridges connecting Ishwardi to Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge are in dilapidated condition, putting the lives of thousands at risk.

Some of the bridges and culverts built during the British era are over 100 years old. Cracks have appeared on the pillars of the culverts. In some places, bricks have fallen off leaving holes in the pillars.

Trains have to slow down while crossing these bridges and culverts but authorities claim that there is no risk of train movement through that area.

During a visit, this correspondent saw cracks in most places of the pillars of the railway bridge in the Baunjan area at Pabna’s Bhangura.

Every day at least 21 trains cross this bridge twice on their way to different destinations.

According to railway sources, multiple cracks have surfaced on all the pillars of bridge No 25 on the border area of ​​Sirajganj and Pabna — built around 120 years ago on the Baral River in Chalan Beel.

Bricks have fallen off and a large hole has also surfaced on one of the pillars. Currently, iron angles have been set on both sides of the pillar as temporary support beams.

Red flags are raised so trains can slow down beforehand to cross the bridge to avoid accidents.

Bangladesh Railway (BR) says the bridge was built with an estimated lifetime of about 105 years, which means it’s already 15 years past the expiry date.

BR sources said 98 km railway tracks from Sirajganj to Pabna’s Gafurabad Railway Station falls under the jurisdiction of the Sirajganj railway authority.

Raju Dewan, a local resident and social activist, said, “Trains pass through this bridge a total of 42 times a day carrying hundreds of passengers. The authorities should urgently demolish the old bridge and build a new one considering the safety of the public.”

Reached for comment, BR Western Zone Chief Engineer Asadul Haque told The Business Post that bridge No 25, also locally known as Baral Bridge, does not pose any risk right now.

“The cracks are not large enough to destabilise the pillars or compromise the bridge, so it’s not in an immediate danger,” he claimed.

He also said that various railway bridges, culverts and their pillars are renovated annually. The repair works of this bridge is temporarily suspended due to bad weather conditions.

“The speed of the trains is controlled, while crossing the renovation sites, keeping in mind the safety of the workers,” Asadul said.

The official further added that a bridge’s lifetime depends on proper maintenance. For example, the iconic Hardinge Bridge over Padma River has been operational since 1915 but it’s still in good shape.