SYLHET, Aug 19: The construction of the Raniganj Bridge over the Kushiyara river under Jogonnathpur upazila of Sunamganj district is nearing completion.
It would bring a major shift in the locals' communication as the bridge would reduce two and a half an hours time for travelling from Sunamganj district town to the capital.
Besides, the sufferings of locals in travelling via the divisional town would be over. It would be the largest bridge in the Sylhet division.
Although the important project was taken up and approved years ago, much time was spent without any field work. At last, work on the project was started in 2017.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and the then state minister for Finance and Planning laid foundation of the bridge in January 2017 with a target to complete it by the end of 2018.
The distance between the Jogonnathpur upazila town and Sunamganj district town with Dhaka would be reduced by 52- km. the officials of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) said.
However, the works were disrupted time and again and the deadline was reset to complete things by the June 2020. For reasons the construction was started late and execution was also disrupted, officials admitted.
Meanwhile, about 70 per cent works on the 702- metre- long bridge with 10.25 metre wide at Raniganj on the regional highway named Jogonnathpur-Pagla-Raniganj-Aushkandi had so far been done.
It would have 15 spans on 14 piers. It would also have 2.5-km long approaches.
The PC guarder and Box guarder bridge construction cost has gone up to Tk 1.41 billion from Tk 1.268 billion, an official informed.
Executive Engineer of RHD Sunamganj Md Shafiqul Islam said, "Work is going on in full swing and hopefully it would be completed within months although the deadline is now June 2020.”
“Hopefully it will be ready by February 2020", he added.
Planning Minister MA Mannan, also the lawmaker from the Dakshin Sunamganj-Jogonnathpur constituency visited the site last week and asked the RHD officials to expediting the works and to complete the works as soon as possible.
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