Repair of Karnaphuli bridge begins today

. PHOTO: STAR

Roads and Highway authorities are implementing the project for replacing the worn-out and risky decks of the bridge at a cost of Tk 5.50 crore, sources concerned said.

Beside, though everything is set to start implementation of Tk 590 crore Third Karnaphuli Bridge project soon, construction of the 980m bridge will take 38 months, they said.

As such, when completed the renovated Shah Amanat Bridge will also facilitate plying of heavy transports as an interim-service provider during this period, said the sources.

High quality wood (7,000 pieces) for the decking of the bridge has already arrived and implementation of the repair and renovation project will start on June 21, R&H Executive Engineer Feroz Iqbal said on Monday.

"The tenure of implementation of the project is six month. We, however, expect to complete the work far ahead of the scheduled time," he said.

Communication ministry at a meeting with minister Nazmul Huda in the chair on April 4 last year decided to repair the bridge with government's own fund as deck of the bridge developed at least 15 huge holes on it causing accidents frequently, sources said.

Immediately after the decision, R&H appointed contractor “Shamsuddin Mia and Associates of Dhaka, for the work.

The authorities expected to complete the repair work within six months to ensure smooth movement of light vehicles along the bridge until 2010.

Under the project a weighing machine and a toll plaza will also be set up at both the ends of the bridge for its proper maintenance, sources said. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply on the bridge, sources added.

But, it took more than 13 months to bring the imported wood from Brazil to kick off the repair and renovation project.

R&H blamed the non-availability of ships for the delay in arrival of the imported woods.

Shah Amanat Bridge (popularly known as Karnaphuli bridge) was constructed on Arakan Sarak (Chittagong-Cox's Bazar) in 1990. It linked south Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Bandarban with other parts of the country and brought about a remarkable change in road communication in this region reducing both the distance and time required for journey.

But within ten years of its opening, the bridge was closed for heavy vehicles as its wooden deck developed cracks and became worn-out at many places.

The bridge remained open for light vehicles. But its dilapidated condition, particularly the worn-out decks having holes all over it, remained as a matter of rising concern.

With the century-old Kalurghat rail-road unable to cope with the flow of vehicular traffic and the construction of the 3rd bridge on the Karnaphuli yet to be started, an alternative means of maintaining the road communication of South Chittagong division with the rest of the country must be developed, said the people of South Chittagong.