Even though a Tk 8.8-crore bridge over the Sutia River in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur has been completed, locals are still unable to use it properly due to the absence of an approach road.
To access the bridge, soil has been dumped, and a makeshift ladder has been placed on the steep embankment. Students and hundreds of local residents are using the makeshift arrangement every day, despite the risk of accidents.
The bridge connects Kawraid in Gazipur’s Sreepur with Gafargaon in Mymensingh and is used by residents of several surrounding areas.
Construction of the bridge began on February 15, 2022, and the main structure was completed on February 28 this year at a cost of Tk 8.8 crore. The bridge is around 15 feet above the existing road level. The steep earthen slope becomes slippery during rain, making it difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to climb onto the bridge.
Several educational institutions are located nearby, and hundreds of students use the route every day. With the new bridge inaccessible, many people are instead using a nearby railway bridge, which locals say poses safety risks.
“Construction of the bridge is complete, but the connecting road remains unfinished,” said local resident Manzurul Karim. “There are government, MPO-listed and private schools nearby. Students, guardians and others use the railway bridge, which is risky. The approach road becomes particularly difficult to cross during rain. Completing it quickly would greatly benefit the community,” he said.
Another resident, Kaisar Ahmed, said the land needed for the approach road belongs to Bangladesh Railway. “People have built houses on the railway land, but that should not prevent the authorities from making this important bridge usable,” he said.
College student Nasrin Begum said the bridge was previously even more difficult to access. “Now soil has been dumped and a ladder has been placed so we can climb onto the bridge. The alternative is the railway bridge, which is dangerous. An approach road would make it much easier for us to travel to college,” she said.
Pedestrian Hannan Sheikh said the bridge is important for people in both Sreepur and Gafargaon. “People from eight of Gafargaon’s 15 unions use this route. Agricultural produce from those areas is also transported through here. It is unfortunate that the bridge has been built, but there is still no proper road to reach it,” he said.
Mohammad Emdadul Haque, executive engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Gazipur, said the issue had been brought to their attention. “The project falls under the less-than-100-metre bridge scheme, which had no provision for land acquisition. Such provision was not included in similar projects across the country,” he said.
“Despite the limitation, we completed the bridge. A decision on land acquisition is expected soon,” he added.
