Sarkertari bailey bridge in Gaibandha turns risky

Our Correspondent | September 15, 2015 00:00:00

A view of Sarkertari bailey bridge, which has become risky for plying trucks, passenger buses and other vehicles. — FE Photo

GAIBANDHA, Sept 14: Sarkertari bailey bridge on Gaibandha-Fulchhari-Shaghata Road at Sarkertari area under Badiakhali union of Sadar upazila has turned vulnerable due to plying of heavy vehicles.

Now, the condition of the bridge has become so pitiable that it may collapse any moment if it is not replaced by a new concrete one.

According to sources a concrete bridge at the area collapsed due to the pressure of the water during the devastating flood of 1988.

Thereafter, Roads and Highway Department (RHD) constructed a bailey bridge there to keep the communication system normal between Gaibandha district town and Fulchhari-Shaghata upazila headquarters.

Everyday, hundreds of trucks, passenger buses, CNG run auto rickshaws, and other vehicles ply on the bridge making it weak day by day.

The bridge has got its importance as it is the only means of communication between Gaibandha district town and other two upazilas-Fulchhari and Shaghata.

But, all sorts of vehicles particularly the heavy trucks and the long routed-passengers buses had been passing the bridge slowly in fear of collapse for long creating tension to the drivers and the bus passengers.

Recently, the bridge collapsed before the Eid-ul-Fitr causing the road communication between Gaibandha district town and the said upazila towns was snapped.

Being informed, the men of RHD repaired the bridge to keep the communication system going.

Dipak Kumar Paul, a local man, said the condition of the bridge is very deplorable as its decks had been damaged and other parts of the bridge have become weak.

The road has become spacious but the bridge remains narrow and the bridge is so narrow that barely a bus or a truck can pass over the bridge, he also said.

The bridge needs replacement with a new one if the communication of the district is to keep intact, he added.

When contacted, executive engineer of RHD here M. Mahabubul Alam Khan said initiative had been taken to construct a concrete bridge on the road at Sarkertari area of Sadar upazila.

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