Damaged bridges pose risk to road users
For the last several years, to travel the Jhenidah – Kushtia highway is to undertake a journey with added risk. Of eight bridges along the route, three have damaged railings. Locals report no repair initiatives have been undertaken, alleging that it's almost as if authorities have closed their eyes to the problem.
Alim Uddin, from Shailakupa bazaar in Jhenidah district says the railing of Garaganj Bridge was damaged about two years ago when a truck crashed into it. With the bridge unrepaired, a few months later a three-wheeler fell off the bridge into the Kali River, injuring two passengers.
Mobarak Ali, another local resident, confirms the railing of the bridge near to the western end of Garaganj Bazar collapsed long ago and has never been repaired.
With the highway used by thousands of people every day, the unrepaired bridge railings offer significant risk of serious misadventure.
Indeed, at Garaganj Bridge locals were so concerned about safety that they organised their own temporary repair, fixing the railing with bamboo. But the bamboo railing was damaged after only a few days, Alim Uddin says.
Farmers meanwhile are concerned about the safe movement of their vegetables and other crops to market on trucks that rely on the damaged bridges. But farmers have little choice but to take a chance in getting the perishable goods to market soon after harvest.
At another bridge in the Garakhola – Moheshpur area another collapsed railing has lain in a similar state of disrepair for many months. Local truck driver Islam Uddin says both vehicles and pedestrians continue to use the bridge through lack of an alternative, despite the added risk to their lives and property.
Jhenidah's executive engineer from the roads and highways department, Rafiqul Islam says they are informed of the matter and will tender notices for repair works at the earliest opportunity.
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