The much awaited Surma bridge on the Surma River in Sunamganj is fast becoming a reality as 97 percent of the construction has been completed so far.
People of the area are elated to see the bridge come to life in 10 years since the work began. They are hopeful of a brighter and prosperous future once the bridge is opened to public.
Authorities said if everything goes as planned, people would be able to use the bridge from June this year.
Four upazilas of Sunamganj – Biswambharpur, Tahirpur, Dharmapasha and a part of Jamalganj – have no direct road link with the district headquarters. This bridge will create direct road link between the district town and the upazilas.
This will eventually have a direct impact on the economy, communication, health, education and other sectors of the district.
Farmers and fishermen of the haor basin will be able to transport their products to other parts of the country for less cost.
Moreover, coal and limestone imported through the land port of Charagaon and Bagli could be easily transported. Also tourism centring the Tanguar Haor and unparalleled natural beauty of Sunamganj will get a boost.
Everyday hundreds of locals are visiting the construction spot to see the progress of the work with their own eyes. Many were seen to take photos in front of the bridge and share it on social media enthusiastically.
Arfan Ali Khan, 60, said: “I have been hearing since my childhood that a bridge would be built on Surma. But finally it is nice to see the bridge in my last days.”
The project, taken up by former finance minister late M Saifur Rahman in fiscal year 2005-2006 at a cost of Tk23 crore, was scheduled to be completed in three years.
However, the project was shut down for unknown reasons after the contractors spent about Tk7 crore.
After the grand alliance came to power in 2008, the project was revived with a revised cost of Tk64 crore 54 lakh and 31 thousand.
The project again experienced a setback when it was dropped from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) in 2012. But it was later included as locals, along with the then parliament member of Sunamganj-4 constituency Motiur Rahman, demanded completion of the bridge.
The 402.61-metre-long bridge has six piers, seven spans, 30 girders, two-kilometre approach road, 115 metre steel truss and four underpasses.
At present, the work to add the steel truss, the last phase of the work, is going on.
Proprietor of JON-JV Consortium, the contractor of the project, AKM Ashraf Uddin said they had been working with utmost sincerity to complete the project within the stipulated time.
“We had to bring the steel truss from China and it took us some time. But the work is going on full swing and we are hopeful of completing it even before June.”
Mokhlesur Rahman, a trader from Biswambharpur, expressed satisfaction with the work. “Once the bridge is operational, we would be able to send our goods much faster with less cost.”
Executive Engineer of Sunamganj Roads and Highways Department, Mohammad Anwarul Amin said about 97 percent work has been completed so far and the rest would be done within June.
Pir Fazlur Rahman Misbah, parliament member of Sunamganj-4, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had assured him of completing the bridge as soon as possible and help open up a door of opportunities for Sunamganj residents.