Work of Khoksha bridge on Buri Teesta stalled halfway
Lack of fund, political rivalry blamed for the stalemate
Incomplete 14 years after start of construction, Khoksha Ghat bridge over Buri Teesta River on Domar-Dimla road in Nilphamari district remains a mockery for locals. Photo: STAR
Fourteen years after starting, construction of Khoksha Ghat bridge over Buri Teesta River on Domar-Dimla road in the district has remained half done as political rivalry, lack of fund and obstructions by locals for getting unpaid money for requisitioned land stood in the way. Roads and Highway Department (RHD) gave work order for construction of Khoksha Ghat bridge to the lowest bidder on July 27 in 1998 and Tk 2.34 crore was allocated for this purpose, sources said. The construction firm completed about 50% of the total work including foundation work and construction of pillars in scheduled time. As prices of construction materials like steel rods, angles, and cement rose up by the time, the contractor demanded increase of budget as condition for doing the rest of the work. Consequently, the construction work of the bridge has remained suspended, said Aftabuddin Ahmed, chairman of Dimla upazila parishad. “During the last BNP-Jamaat alliance rule, local lawmaker from Domar-Dimla constituency was from Awami League and so, the government did not pay any attention to the problem,” he added. The then lawmaker in 1996-2001 period, Jatiyo Party leader NK Alam Choudhury had inaugurated the bridge construction in 1998. Alam said he failed to manage increased money for the bridge as the then Awami League (AL) candidate, who lost to him in the parliament election, obstructed his efforts during the AL government's tenure. After completion, the 107.56-metre-long Khoksha Ghat bridge will lessen the distance between Domar and Dimla by eight kilometres and about five lakh people of both the upazilas will be benefited from it, RHD sources said. The department called a second tender in 2010-2011 fiscal year to do the rest of the bridgework, said Horish Chandra Roy, assistant engineer of RHD in Nilphamari. Tk 2.83 crore was allocated for this purpose and construction firm 'Roads and Bridge Construction Company Limited' got work order afresh. The new contractor, Azad Ali said he could not start work, as allotted fund is insufficient. He also alleged that some locals were obstructing the work, as they did not get the price of their land that was requisitioned by the government 14 years ago for the bridge. The chairman of Balapara union parishad of Dimla upazila Zahedul Islam said, "The east end of the bridge is situated in my union. For bridge construction and approach road, 8.25 acres of land was requisitioned 14 years ago. But the government is yet to pay the price to the poor landowners." Several owners of the requisitioned land, including Joinal, Amin Hossain, Adam Ali, Monnaf, Bisa and others alleged that they moved door to door for years to get the price of the land but to no effect. They firmly said that they would not allow the contractor to start the work until they get the land price. Contacted, Executive Engineer of RHD in Nilphamari Mahbubul Alam Khan said, "The government had allocated Tk 66 lakh out of 2.83 crore this year for rest of the bridge work. We have written to the higher authorities, asking for allotment of the total amount." Regarding demand of the landowners, he said, "My office submitted price list of the requisitioned land to the concerned department of the deputy commissioner's office recently. It is getting a little bit late due to lack of fund."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments