Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has completed the retrofitting of the 294-metre Assam Basti Bridge on the Kaptai–Assam Basti Road in Rangamati, extending its service life by an estimated 30 years while saving the government nearly Tk 80 crore.
Instead of demolishing and rebuilding the bridge, engineers adopted a modern rehabilitation approach that restored the structure at a cost of only Tk 1.8 crore during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 fiscal years.
Built in 2006 at a cost of around Tk 6 crore over Kaptai Lake, the bridge had become structurally vulnerable after several piers suffered deterioration from years of heavy traffic, seasonal submersion and environmental impacts. Following detailed inspections, LGED engineers recommended retrofitting as a more economical and sustainable alternative to constructing a new bridge.
The rehabilitation project involved strengthening all 21 bridge piers using advanced engineering techniques to improve stability, durability and load-bearing capacity. Officials said replacing the bridge would have required about Tk 80 crore and caused lengthy disruptions to transportation, whereas the retrofit preserved uninterrupted connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors.
The Assam Basti Bridge plays a crucial role in connecting Kaptai and surrounding communities that remained isolated for decades. Over the years, it has become an essential transport corridor supporting healthcare, education, agriculture, trade and tourism. Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks and buses, cross the bridge daily.
According to LGED Rangamati Sadar Upazila Engineer Pranab Roy Chowdhury, one of the biggest engineering challenges was constructing steel pipe staging around the bridge's high piers. Since the piers remain submerged beneath Kaptai Lake for most of the year, engineers had only two to three months annually to carry out repairs and worked around the clock to complete the project.
LGED Executive Engineer Ahmed Shafi said prolonged overloading, climate change and continuous seasonal flooding had damaged the bridge's concrete piers, exposing reinforcing steel and weakening the structure. Retrofitting restored the bridge's structural integrity at a fraction of the replacement cost and is expected to keep it safe for at least another three decades.