Land Acquisition Problem
Construction of Surma bridge stops halfway
Construction work of the bridge across Surma River flowing through Sylhet city came to a halt on the halfway due to fund shortage and complexities over acquisition of land. Photo: STAR
Construction work of the bridge across Surma River at Kazirbazar in Sylhet city has remained suspended for over a year due to complexities over acquisition of land on the two ends of the bridge and fund shortage. Admitting the delay, the Roads and Highways Department (RDH) officials said they are taking initiative to resume the work soon. RHD officials claimed that about 60 percent of the total work has already been done while sources in the construction company said 50 percent work of the bridge has remained incomplete even two and a half years after the scheduled time. The work of the 366-metre bridge began in 2006 at Kazirbazar, about one kilometre from the age-old Keane Bridge. The then finance minister M Saifur Rahman inaugurated the construction work in February 2006 and it was supposed to be completed by June 2007 at a cost of Tk 36 crore. The cost of the project would be at least double even if the work starts in a month or two, sources said. The work has remained suspended as the authorities failed to acquire some land -- both private and government -- on northern and southern banks of the river, sources said. Although major work had already been done on the southern bank, several pieces of land owned by different ministries are yet to be acquired there, said an official requesting not to be quoted. "We are now unsure about the fate of the project. We cannot continue sitting jobless for an indefinite period as the RHD is yet to hand over the site to us," said engineer Abid Habib, director of construction company Abdul Monem Limited. "Changing the bridge's alignment on the northern bank has remained hanging for long. Besides, the previous consultant did not get their payment. We will have to incur huge losses if the situation continues," he added. Meanwhile, a number of locals have expressed their concern about getting fair price for their valuable land, which is being acquired for the bridge. A total of six hectares of land would be acquired for the purpose, RHD Executive Engineer Shah Mohammad Musa said. "Proposal for acquiring land belonging to the ministries of defence, education, communication and food has already been approved from the Prime Minister's Office. The deputy commissioner has also started sending notices to the locals for land acquisition. The process would be completed soon," he said. A revised design is awaiting approval from the higher authority and a package worth Tk 126 crore has been taken up, he added. The package includes construction of the bridge and its approaches, Ambarkhana bypass and widening of road on the northern bank.
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