The Jamuna Bridge authorities have taken initiative to reinvestigate the reasons for the bridge developing and expanding cracks.
They are also thinking about taking action against the Korean construction firm Hyundai, if it is found guilty of irregularities in construction, sources said. Hyundai built the bridge at a cost of Tk 4,000 crore with an expected service life of 100 years. The bridge was open to public in 1998.
The authorities are concerned with several cracks that developed within 10 years of its operation. They fear the lifespan of the bridge could become 20-25 years, if necessary steps are not taken immediately.
The authorities following several investigations think faulty maps, faulty construction, plying of overloaded vehicles and plying of trains could be the reasons behind the bridge's present condition.
However, an official of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge authority said they are not satisfied with the results of investigations made so far.
A recent investigation claimed trains are the main cause for the cracks and suggested closing the bridge to trains. It found cracks in 62 out of 1,262 segment joints of the bridge. The government, however, only reduced speed limit of trains on the bridge to 20kmph. They are even thinking about reducing the number of trains using the bridge.
The authorities also say the present caretaker of the bridge Marga Net One has not been taking proper care of the bridge, apart from collecting toll. They claimed it does not tighten the nuts and bolts of expansion joints at regular intervals, a job the previous caretaker Jomac did very well.