Shahjalal Bridge unutilised as approach road incomplete

The Shahjalal Bridge-III, left, over the Surma river on Sylhet bypass highway cannot be opened for traffic as its southern approach road remains incomplete for over a year.Photo: STAR

The Shahjalal Bridge-III over Surma river on Dhaka-Sylhet-Sunamganj highway could not be opened for traffic four years after the deadline as the southern approach road could not be completed in more than a year.
Besides, work on raising the rail tracks which crosses the road at Mollargaon could not be completed.
Due to the unusual delay, the project cost has increased to Tk 45 crore from Tk 34 crore, sources said.
The then finance minister and former lawmaker from Sylhet-1 constituency M Saifur Rahman inaugurated the road on October 23 last year ahead of completion the approach road and others works.
The 261-metre bridge on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Sunamganj highway bypasses Sylhet city.
Work on the bridge began in August 2000 and was scheduled to be completed by August 2003 at a total cost of Tk 34 crore.
An official of Roads & Highways (R& H) Department said, complexity in acquiring lands for approach roads caused a stalemate in the work for over two years from 2004.
Though the main bridge was completed long ago, we could not start the approach part in time due to cases with some locals, he added.
On the other hand, some locals in Sheikhpara alleged that the Roads & Highways authorities changed the original design and alignment of the road several times to earn illegal benefit by saving lands of some influential men.
The tricky and corrupt practice by a section of R&H officials affected over 100 poor men in the area, the locals alleged while talking tot this correspondent during a recent visit.
R&H executive engineer in Sylhet Abdus Sabur, who took office recently said things remained stalled for different reasons. “We have started work in full swing to finish the whole job in 2-3 months.
“The railway authorities have also completed elevating rail tracks. There is possibility of opening the bridge for traffic after December”, he said.