3rd Shitalakhya Bridge to ease communication in southwestern districts

The six-lane third Shitalakhya Bridge, scheduled to open on Monday, will connect Narayanganj city with Bandar upazila which will boost Bangladesh's economy as well as ease the communication between Chittagong and southwestern districts via Padma Bridge.
"After the opening of the bridge, Chittagong region-bound vehicles from southwestern region and vice-versa will be able to bypass Narayanganj city to avoid traffic congestion and save time," Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Narayanganj Md Monjurul Hafiz told a press briefing on Sunday.
Monjurul Hafiz said the bridge, first of all, ensured secured communication for the locals who witnessed a number of accidents and deaths while crossing the river by boat as boats often collide with large ships.
It will connect Madanganaj of Bandar upazila on the east with Syedpur of Narayanganj Sadar upazila on the west connecting the Narayanganj and Munshiganj districts with the Padma bridge, he added.
The DC said the bridge will reduce the travel time of vehicles bound to and from southeastern part of the Bangladesh as using the bridge Chittagong region-bound vehicles from southwestern region and vice-versa will be able to bypass Narayanganj city avoiding traffic congestion and saving times.
Bangladesh's economy will get boosted up significantly after opening of the bridge, he added.
Project director of the bridge Shoaib Ahmed said the bridge was constructed at a cost of Tk608.56 crore, of which Tk263.36 crore came from Bangladesh government fund and Tk345.20 crore from Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
The bridge with walkways has 38 spans - five in river and 33 in east and west ends. The width of the bridge along with walkways is 22.15 meters. Besides, six-lane toll plaza, 1.5km long approach road was also built.
Two lanes of the bridge will be dedicated for maximum speed transport while the rest two lanes will be for the transports with minimum speed.
The people will get maximum benefit from the Padma Bridge once the new road network is built with the bridge, he also said.
Deputy Press Secretary of Prime Minister Hasan Jahid Tusher and Assistant Press Secretary Imrul Kayes, Bandar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) BM Kudrat-e-Khuda, among others, were present on the occasion.