Bridge work goes on at snail’s pace

Construction work of a bridge on a canal in Tangail's Nagarpur upazila sees very slow progress, causing immense sufferings to commuters.

Previously, people crossed a decades-old risky bridge on the canal in Kathuri Chourasta area of Nagarpur Sadar union amid risk of accident.

The Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) then took an initiative to construct a 15-metre-long new bridge on the canal at a cost of Tk 1.31 crore.

Construction firm Ms Alif Enterprise of Tangail got the work order and started the construction work of the bridge on December 16 last year. On December 31, local Lawmaker Ahsanul Islam Titu formally inaugurated the bridge work.

The construction firm was supposed to complete the work by November 15 this year but the contractor has only demolished the previous old bridge and filled some earth there till now, locals said.

Sources at the upazila LGED office said although a 40-metre-long diversion brick-built road was supposed to construct there for facilitating movement of people before starting the bridge work, but the contractor did not construct the diversion road so far.

A number of people, especially motorcyclists, are now crossing a bamboo bridge over the canal amid risk. They have built the bridge on self-help basis.

Abu Bakar, a local resident, said the local people are suffering a lot as the construction work of the new bridge is going on at a slow pace. They are also struggling to cross the bamboo bridge over the canal.

Especially critical patients are the worst sufferers due to the communication problem, he said.

Jewel Miah, a hired motorcycle driver, said November 15 scheduled for completion of the bridge on the canal is not likely to be met as the contractor concerned is yet to start the work.

"Local passengers are spending extra money as well as time to go to their destinations through the road as there is no other alternative way," he said.

Jasiur Rahman Lukon, a rights activist in Nagarpur, said the authorities concerned should complete the bridge construction work as soon as possible considering the woes of the passengers and transports workers.

Contractor Mohammad Minitu, however, said they had to spend more than three months to just remove electric poles from there.

"We also filled the place with earth for construction of the diversion road but these were washed away in the recent devastating floods," he said.

Mahbubur Rahman, upazila LGED engineer, said the progress of the work has been delayed due to the floods.

"We hope the bridge work will be completed soon," he added.