‘Unfit’ bridge in service for decade
More than a decade ago, Badiakhali bridge on the Alai river in Gaibandha Sadar upazila was declared unfit for vehicular movement. But the bridge, connecting the Sadar with Phulchhari and Saghata upazilas, is still in use.
Ignoring the risk of serious accidents, no visible steps were taken over the years to replace the 65-meter-long ramshackle bridge with a new one either.
Damaged by freedom fighters to stop enemy movement on it during the Liberation War in 1971, a temporary Bailey bridge was built over the top of it after the country’s independence.
The narrow metal bridge has been in service since then and over time, shrubs and bushes grew on its sides. It has tilted at several spots and its concrete structure below is degenerating in many places, leaving scope for a catastrophic disaster.
Long tailbacks on both its sides are a common occurrence as larger vehicles have to take extra caution and cross it at a very slow pace.
Concerned citizens in the area alleged that although they anticipate a fatal incident any time, the authorities concerned did not pay heed to their repeated requests of building a new bridge on the Alai river.
The roads on both sides of the dilapidated bridge, built during the pre-independence era, remains congested almost all throughout the day due to slow movement of traffic on it, said Abdul Karim from Ramnather Bhita village in Sadar upazila.
Locals said the road between Gaibandha and Saghata was widened to 18 feet, but the state of the Badiakhali bridge remained the same.
After it was declared unfit in 2007, the army made several urgent repairs on the bridge and it has remained open ever since.
While speaking with this correspondent, Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Executive Engineer Asaduzzaman said the RHD has already completed tender process for the bridge with Tk 20 crore fund allocation and the construction work will begin in January.
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