Heavy vehicles putting 2nd Teesta Bridge in danger

The Sheikh Hasina Teesta Bridge, also known as the second Teesta Bridge, over the Teesta in Mahipur area on the Kakina-Mahipur route in Kaliganj  is in a vulnerable condition due to heavy vehicles, especially stone-laden trucks, plying over it every day.

The bridge was constructed in 2018 at a cost of Tk 121 crore for light vehicles, but hundreds of heavy vehicles go over it each day, causing damage to the bridge and the approach roads.

The 15km connecting road on both sides of the bridge is getting destroyed, and locals are concerned that the bridge may collapse at any moment.

According to Mohor Ali, a local businessman near the bridge, 1,500-1,600 trucks carrying stones from Burimari land port ply the bridge daily, and the bridge vibrates when they pass over it.

Heavy vehicles are allowed to move through the first Teesta bridge established at Lalmonirhat upazila, but many drivers opt to avoid the first bridge to save time and fuel costs.

Burimari land port's truck driver, Nabir Hossain, informed The Daily Star that almost all of the 1,900 trucks registered in the area are using the Sheikh Hasina Teesta Bridge. It saves them 13-15 liters of fuel and 55km of travel, as there is no toll when traveling over this bridge.

Although barricades were initially put in place in October 2018 to stop the movement of heavy vehicles, they were removed last February, and now all types of vehicles are moving over the bridge, said locals.

Manjur Kader Islam, Lalmonirhat LGED executive engineer, said plying of such vehicles is harmful to the bridge and connecting roads, and the local administration has been requested to take action in this regard.

However, no order has been received by the authorities to stop the movement of stone-laden heavy vehicles over the bridge, according to Kaliganj Police Station OC Golam Rasul.

Jahir Imam, UNO of Kaliganj, said the issue was discussed in the law and order meeting.

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ullah stated police must take strict measures to prevent overloaded heavy vehicles from crossing the bridge. Regular mobile courts will be conducted by the district administration to ensure that as well, he added.