Rising gracefully over the Kaliganga River in Ghior upazila, the concrete bridge at Baikunthapur was meant to end decades of isolation for dozens of villages, yet today it stands idle, cut off from the very communities it was built to serve.

Three years after its completion, the Tk 42.34-crore structure remains unused, reminding how poor planning can turn development into despair, locals said.

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With no approach roads on either end, the 365-metre-long bridge has failed to deliver its promise of connectivity. For residents of at least 30 villages on both banks of the river, daily life remains shaped by hardship, risk and long detours.

Rather than easing communication, the bridge has become a symbol of frustration, according to villagers.

They said they continue to cross the Kaliganga by ferry boats, often at personal risk, while motorcycles, vans and rickshaws are ferried across the river one by one.

“What should have been a journey of minutes now takes hours — or requires travelling nearly 15 kilometres extra to reach essential destinations,” said Habibur Rahman of Baliabadha village.

Constructed under the Construction of Important Bridges on Rural Roads (CIBRR) project, the bridge’s construction began in 2018 following a tender process, officials said.

They said the project included approach roads, with land acquisition factored into the overall cost. While the main bridge was completed in 2022, the crucial connecting roads never materialised.

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According to the officials, the delay stems from complications in land acquisition. About 6.20 acres of land were acquired for the approach roads, and Tk 12.10 crore was allocated to compensate affected landowners.

However, delays in distributing compensation cheques meant landowners did not hand over possession of their land, bringing construction to a standstill. “As a result, the bridge has remained idle for three years — a costly piece of infrastructure serving no practical purpose,” said an official, preferring anonymity.

He said the impact on local life has been severe, as residents from the eastern parts of Ghior upazila face immense difficulty reaching the upazila headquarters, markets and public services. On the western side, people struggle to travel to Manikganj district town and neighbouring areas.

Rickshaws, vans and motorcycles are carried across the river by ferry, while many villagers walk long distances just to reach the crossing points.

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“If land acquisition had been completed before the bridge was built, we wouldn’t be suffering like this,” said Habibur Rahman, adding, “During emergencies, we have to travel nearly 15 kilometres extra just to reach the district town.”

Officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) say the issue is now close to being resolved.

Executive Engineer of Manikganj LGED ABM Khorshed Alam said contractors were unable to begin work on the approach roads due to land-related complexities, but the process is nearing completion. “Once compensation cheques are handed over to the affected landowners, construction will begin immediately,” he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Ali said land acquisition remains an ongoing process. “Notices have already been served. We have identified 71 affected landowners. Nine have already applied for compensation, and cheques will be issued to the rest once applications are received,” he said.

Until then, locals said, the bridge over the Kaliganga will remain a concrete monument, silently reminding all that infrastructure alone does not guarantee connectivity.

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