CHATTOGRAM, Aug 01: Movement of vehicles through the 93-year-old Kalurghat Bridge halted Tuesday for next three months as Bangladesh Railway (BR) has started its renovation work.
However, the vehicles could still cross the Karnaphuli River by ferry during this period.
Chief Engineer of BR (Eastern Zone) Engineer Abu Jafar Meah said, "The movement of vehicles will resume again in November next."
"Max Infrastructure Limited is renovating the bridge. The renovation work will be completed within the next three months at a cost of Tk 430 million."
The ferry service has already been started, he said, adding the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridge already fixed the toll rate for using the ferry. Two ferries are being operated in the river.
Md Jahangir Hossain, General Manager (GM) of BR Eastern Zone said, "It became necessary to repair the bridge for smooth train movement on the Cox's Bazar route. First the BR will increase the load capacity of the bridge."
Sources said, without renovation works the movement of trains over the existing bridge is risky.
The 239-metre-long Kalurghat dual-purpose bridge has now become unfit for both train and road traffic that was built in 1930 over Karnaphuli River.
However, Kalurghat Bridge has been playing a remarkable role in both rail and road communications between the port city and southern part of Chattogram district and Cox's Bazar district.
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