The work on the much-sought bridge started in April 2016 at Gandab Ghat under Kashipur union over the river. It was supposed to be completed on October 22, 2017 but the project is still far away from completion.
Locals alleged that the project work is moving at a snail’s pace due to negligence of the contractor firm.
According to sources at Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED), 85 percent works on the bridge have so far completed.
The government allocated Tk 10.19 crore to construct the bridge and PPL-NA, a contractor firm owned by Nayeb Ali Khan, got the bridge work.
During a recent visit to the construction site, the UNB correspondent found only 8-9 workers working at the site. The link roads on both sides of the bridge are yet to be constructed.
Mustafizur Rahman, deputy assistant engineer of the upazila, said five slabs have been installed over 15 girders of the bridge while the welding work on the last girder is going on. “We’re trying to complete the construction work by December next,” he said.
According to the locals, workers had to sit idle for about four months due to the delay in construction material supply.
However, the bridge is expected to benefit the residents of 40 villages under eight unions once it is opened as it will help farmers carry their farm produces to local markets easily and quickly.
Kabir Hossain, a lecturer at Lohagara Government Ideal College and a resident of Gandab village, said there are two big villages—Gandab and Chalighat—on the northern side of the river, and the residents of the villages have to cross the river to go to the union parishad and land offices and the union health centre.
More importantly, he said, there is a vast track of cropland on the southern side of the river, and the bridge is expected to assuage the sufferings of people living in Kashipur, Joypur, Noagram and Lahuria unions.
RumanaParvin, headteacher of Gandab Government Primary School, said most students of her school have to attend their classes and examinations by crossing the river taking risks.
GolamKibria, a trader in Manikganj Bazar, said he takes his farm produces to ErendaHaat through an alternative longer route. Once the construction work on the bridge is completed, he will be able to take his produces to the local haat easily at a lower cost, he said.
Nur Islam Sharif, manager of the contractor firm, said they have to suspend the construction work due to strong monsoon currents in the river, an excuse turned down by locals.
Contacted, Bidhan Chandra Somaddar, Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department in the district, said the construction work on the bridge will be completed soon.