Lohalia bridge gets 2 more yrs to finish

The deadline to finish construction of the bridge on the Lohalia river, near Patuakhali town, has been extended for a couple more years, by December 2022.

The decision was approved by Abdur Rashid Khan, chief engineer of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), on Saturday when he paid a visit to the construction site.

The bridge was scheduled to be completed in December of 2020. But the LGED had to extend the deadline after Nabarun Traders and ABul Kalam Azad, the contractor firms that are jointly building the bridge, requested the extension, as they had been unable to complete the bridge on time due to labour shortage triggered by coronavirus pandemic situation, the chief engineer told journalists at the site.  

The Lohalia bridge will establish an improved road network between Patuakhali town and Baufal, Dashmina and Galachipa upazilas as well as the district of Bhola.

With enhanced communications, the bridge will usher in economic prosperity for residents of the region, hopes locals. 

The 576.25-metre long and 9.65 metre-wide bridge is being built at a cost of Tk 47.19 crore.

Land acquisition of a total 7.08 acres on both ends of the bridge has been completed for making 675 metres of approach road -- 425 metres on the south and 250 meters on the north, according to LGED officials. 

Earlier in the day, before visiting the Lohalia bridge site, the LGED chief engineer also visited sites of various other development projects that are being implemented in the district by the LGED, including the site of Syed Nazrul Islam Bridge, on Andharmanik river in Kalapara upazila, which is a key structure that will establish connectivity with Payra deep-sea port.

Among others who were present during LGED Chief Engineer Abdur Rashid Khan's visit to the Lohalia bridge site include Patuakhali municipality Mayor Mohiuddin Ahmed, LGED Additional Chief Engineers Moslem Uddin, Ali Akhter, AKM Lutfur Rahman and Mokhlesur Rahman; Project Directors Moshrafer Hossain and Mollah Mizanur Rahman; Patuakhali Executive Engineer Abdus Sattar and Senior Assistant Engineer Jugal Krishna Mandal.