Sylhet's risky Keane Bridge opened for 2-wheelers

SYLHET Sept16: Authorities opened the risky Keane bridge in Sylhet to two-wheelers after protests from locals and requests from transport and political leaders.

Despite all vehicles were prohibited to use the bridge in 2019, two-wheelers were allowed shortly after as the only exception from 2023 till recently, according to the authorities. On September 9, the authorities had imposed the ban again for two-wheelers, which triggered the protest.

An official from the district administration on Sunday said that now the bridge is open for bikers as well.

The ban on two-wheelers on the bridge sparked commotion among the inhabitants of ward No. 25, 26 and 27 and other areas, along the Surma River banks. The bridge is the main link between areas along two banks of the river in Sylhet city.

On September 11, the residents handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner (DC) saying that students, traders and businesses of the vast south Surma region would be the sufferers of the decision to ban two-wheelers.

Afterwards, the DC Md Sarwar Alam held a meeting with transport leaders and political leaders and called off the ban on two-wheelers on the bridge. However, the ban on vendors on the infrastructure, which was also imposed again on September 9, is still on effect.

The DC along with city corporation officials and former mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury launched a drive to evict the vendors from the bridge on Saturday. The authorities said their drive would be continued and the vendors would not be allowed after a week.

Although the initial prohibition of movement on the risky bridge also applied to pedestrians in 2019, it was reverted after days due to strong protest.

The 1150 ft historic steel bridge is built after the name of the then Assam governor Michael Keane and was opened for vehicular traffic in 1936.

forsylhet@gmail.com