The construction work of Fateh Ali bridge in Bogura did not finish after one and a half year, even though the work was supposed to be completed within one year.
The delay is causing significant hardship to the people who now have to take a detour of five kilometres to reach the town, even when they are taking patients or necessary products. This detour requires additional time and increased transportation costs. Hundreds of thousand people from four upazilas of East Bogura who use this road, suffer daily due to the incompletion of the work.
An unstable bamboo bridge has been constructed as a temporary solution for crossing the river on foot. Locals are demanding prompt completion of the main bridge.
Seventy percent of the work of the bridge has been completed in one and a half year, although it should have been finished in one year. The Roads and Highway Department said the work is being delayed due to a complication regarding land acquisition. They are hoping that the work will be completed by next January.
It was learnt that, the Roads and Highways Department in 1962 constructed a 213-foot-long bridge over the Korotoya River at a cost of Tk 20 lakh. During the Liberation War, part of the bridge was damaged, which was repaired after independence. However, due to a lack of maintenance over the years, the bridge was declared risky in 2018 and heavy vehicles were banned from crossing the bridge. This caused immense suffering for thousands of people traveling on this route from the Sadar upazila, as well as from Sariakandi, Sonatala, and Gabtali upazilas.
On May 22 of last year, the Roads and Highways Department began construction work of a modern bridge at a cost of Tk 20 crores, dismantling the old risky bridge. The project was primarily approved due to the sincere efforts of Executive Engineer of Bogura Roads and Highway Department, Md Asaduzzaman. Following the approval, he promptly completed the funding allocation and tender process and quickly initiated the construction work. However, complications arose with land acquisition, slowing down the construction progress. Delays occurred while acquiring the shops on both sides of the bridge, and it wasn’t until March of this year that the Roads and Highways Department gained possession of the required land. Construction then resumed in full swing. The land acquisition for the bridge cost around Tk 21 crores.
Meanwhile, those traveling on this route continue to face difficulties as the bridge construction remains unfinished after nearly a year and a half. The slow pace of bridge construction on the main route for people from four upazilas to enter the town has led to various challenges, as heavy vehicles are unable to pass. This has disrupted the transport of goods and caused difficulties for the movement of the public.
Traders report increased costs for transporting goods from various markets in East Bogura. For emergencies, including transporting patients, people must take a five-kilometer detour, which increases both time and transportation expenses. The bamboo footbridge being used as an alternative is also unstable, causing fear among children and the elderly when crossing.
Executive Engineer Md Asaduzzaman said due to complications with land acquisition, the bridge construction has been delayed, although 70% of the work has already been completed. The bridge will be 226 feet long and 40 feet wide, with 8-foot sidewalks on both sides and a 24-foot roadway in the middle to accommodate both regular and heavy vehicles. Once the bridge is completed, it will benefit hundreds of thousands of people, facilitating smoother travel. It will enable direct connectivity between four upazilas in the district, allowing easier transport of agricultural products and heavy vehicles. This will save both time and money, opening a new chapter in local transportation and connectivity.
