SB-Sujon, Lalmonirhat: There have been allegations of design complications and irregularities in the under-construction bridge project over the Ratnai River on the Lalmonirhat-Kurigram connecting road. Despite three time extensions on this project costing about Tk 21 crore, only 85 percent of the work has been completed. This has created uncertainty about the development of the important communication system for millions of people in the two districts.
According to sources from the Roads and Highways (SOH) Department, Tk 21 crore has been allocated for the construction of a new bridge over the Ratnai River, 130.8 meters long, in the Kulaghat area of ​​​​Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila. About 286 acres of land was acquired for the implementation of the project. Dhaka-based contractor Concrete and Steel Technology Limited started construction on March 8, 2023.
Currently, people of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram are using the old steel Bailey bridge over the river. The bridge has become risky due to long-term use. Due to its narrowness, traffic jams often occur when large vehicles move.
Locals allege that the government design was not followed in the construction of the new bridge’s connection road. The road was built in a curved manner, creating a risk of accidents in the future. There are also allegations of using low-quality construction materials.
The complaint states that although the project had approval to build a 600-foot returning wall, only about 300 feet have actually been built. Similarly, although about 32,000 cubic feet of boulders were supposed to be used, the locals claim that less than half of it has been used.
However, without denying these allegations, the engineer in charge of the contracting company, SM Reza Morshed, said that the work on the connection road has not been finalized yet. Necessary corrections and changes will be made as per the instructions of the concerned authorities.
Lalmonirhat Sewage Department Executive Engineer Debashish Saha said that after the locals complained, a surveyor team of the department has been sent to inspect the matter. Necessary measures will be taken based on their report.
According to local conscious circles, if this long-awaited bridge is opened, it will bring new momentum to the communication system of the people of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts. However, if transparency and work according to the design are not ensured in the construction work, there is a risk that the benefits of the project will be hampered. Therefore, they have demanded that the work be completed quickly and necessary measures be taken after investigating the complaints.
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