Bridge lies unused for want of approach roads

The newly built bridge over the Charalkata River at Beltoli ghat in Kishoreganj upazila under the district is lying useless even after seven months of its inauguration due to lack of approach roads on both sides.

Due to the situation, about 30 thousand people of ten villages have to cover a few kilometres of additional way for carrying goods to distant markets or going to destinations.

The construction work of the 140-metre-long bridge over the Charalkata River completed in April 2015 at a cost of about Tk 9 crore, said sources in Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

Visiting the area on Thursday, it was seen that people were drying paddy and cow dung on the bridge while piles of bricks occupied a portion of it.

“Six months ago, we the villagers voluntarily made an earthen approach road but it was washed away during the last rainy season,” said Hares Mia, a resident of nearby Mushrat Panialpukur village.

Local farmers have to cover a few kilometres of additional way to go to Taraganj Haat and Dhelapeer Haat to sell their agricultural products and cattle as the bridge cannot be used yet, said Afzazul Islam of Foruapara village.

Construction of the approach road is essential to make the bridge usable for the people of Beltoli, Musrat Panialpukur, Kholahati, Moulavir Bazar, Panialpukur, Othaopara, Foruapara, Gangber, Nitai and Chapra villages, said Shahin Alam, chairman of the local union parishad.

"I have raised the matter in the monthly coordination meeting of the upazila parishad,” he said.

Upazila engineer of LGED Keramot Ali said construction of approach roads on both sides of the bridge over the Charalkata River got approval from the higher authorities and process is on to call tender for it.