Cracks in Friendship Bridge in Jhalakathi
Tk 25 lakh sougst for repair
Akter Faruk, Barisal
Dangerous cracks have developed on the Fifth China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge at Gaabkhan on Jhalakati-Pirojpur highway. The cracks are at the western end where the approach road meets the bridge and on the protection concrete structure on one side. The 918-metre bridge, locally known as Gaabkhan Setu, was built at a cost of Tk 81 crore about one and a half years back. Sources at Jhalakati Roads and Highways Department said they have sought an emergency sanction of Tk 25 lakh from the Jamuna Bridge Authority to repair the cracks. The bridge may be threatened if the cracks are not repaired immediately, they said. They said Hilong Ziang International Technical Cooperative Corporation of China started its construction on September 1999 and completed the work six months ahead of schedule. Plying of vehicles over the bridge has also became risky due to this cracks, they said.
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