The construction works of the bridge over Kakra Khal (Canal), located near Kalidas-Bohuria Chatalbaid road of Tangail’s Sakhipur Upazila, has not been completed even after three and a half years.
This has created sufferings for thousands of people who use this road for their communication. To reduce the sufferings, a bamboo bridge was initially built alongside the construction site with the help of locals for pedestrians and motorcyclists. However, that footbridge has now also become unusable.
According to locals and Upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) sources, for the past 10 years, locals have been demanding for a bridge over the canal in the Karatia Union area of Kalidas-Bahuria Chatalbaid road of the upazila.
Considering that demand, the construction work of the bridge started on February 16, 2021, under the strengthening project of the government and the road widening project of the union with the upazila. A contracting company, named Messieurs Mine Uddinbasi, got the work of the 25 metre long PSC girder bridge at a cost of Tk 2,28,70,731.
According to the contract, the construction work of the bridge was supposed to be completed by February 17, 2022. However, the contracting firm completed only a few months of work before leaving the project unfinished for unknown reasons.
The LGED reports that the contractor initially completed 20 per cent of the work. After that, there was no progress for two years. A few months ago, the contractor returned with some workers and worked for two weeks before leaving again. Following a second push, 50 per cent of the work has now been completed.
During a visit to the place, this correspondent found that only the construction work of the pillar on the both sides of the under-construction PSC girder bridge have been completed. A bamboo footbridge was temporarily built alongside the construction for pedestrians and motorcyclists, initiated by the locals, but it has now become unusable.
During the bridge construction, there was supposed to be a temporary side road for people and vehicles, but it was not made. As a result, public suffering has reached severe levels.
Ibrahim Hossain, a resident of Karatia Union in Tangail’s Sakhipur, said that due to the contractor leaving, locals are facing extreme difficulties in transportation. Raw materials produced in the area cannot be transported to the upazila or district town. Due to necessity, locals are forced to detour 10-15 kilometres and pay extra for transportation.
Bahuria Union Parishad Chairman, Nure Alam Mukta, said that the new two-lane road from Sakhipur Upazila to Chatalbaid, which is nine kilometres long, is in no use for the locals as the bridge over the canal has not been constructed in three and a half years.
He added that he has called on the relevant authorities to expedite the bridge construction as the absence of the bridge causes indescribable suffering for people.
Abdul Jabbar, the superintendent of Karatia Para Dakhil Madrasa, said that due to the lack of a bridge, students from Thakina Para, Fuljhuri, and other areas cannot reach school on time. Sometimes their books and notebooks get wet from falling into the water.
Responding to a question about the work, contractor Mohammad Liton Mia of the construction company said that due to various business difficulties, they have been unable to complete the work after starting it. He apologises to the locals and hopes that the bridge construction will be finished within the next few months.
LGED Engineer of Sakhipur Upazila, Md Tofazzol Hossain, said, “We have sent several reminder letters to the construction company to finish the work for the last two years. The contractor has promised to complete the work before January last, but failed to keep the promise.”
He further said, “After numerous reminders, some progress was made, but the contractors have been absent for the past two weeks. Necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the bridge construction is completed promptly.”
