Matlab bridge becomes drivers’ nightmare

CHANDPUR, Jan 04: An important bridge, which was built on Chandpur-Matlab-Pennai Road in Matlab Dakhshin Upazila of the district nearly four decades ago, has been dilapidated for a long time, causing immense sufferings for commuters.
Besides, the construction work on the approach roads of two other bridges in Kochua and Sadar upazilas of the district have not been completed yet though many years have elapsed.
Transport workers say vehicles get stuck on the run-down Matlab road which has developed numerous potholes. The bridge is very narrow.
Talking to the FE, drivers and local people say when vehicles ride the bridge, it get trembled, causing panic among passengers.
Two vehicles cannot cross the bride smoothly, so gridlocks occur now and then on both sides, they add.
Hundreds of buses, trucks and light vehicles carrying people and different goods to Chandpur, Matlab, Hajiganj and Luxmipur areas use this bridge round the clock. The bridge is used as a shortcut way to go to Dhaka.
Teachers and students of Narayanpur High School, Narayanpur Degree College, Narayanpur Popular High School and Narayanpur Girls' High School have expressed frustration about the bridge's long-time dilapidated condition.
Locals have requested the authorities concerned to construct a new bridge as soon as possible in place of the old one.
When contacted, Maruf Hossain, senior engineer at Roads and Highways Department in Chandpur, has told the FE, "A new bridge will be constructed soon there."
On the other hand, thousands of people have been suffering much as approach roads of two important bridges in Chandpur Sadar and Kochua Upazilas are not completed yet.
The bridges are 274-metre long and 24-feet breadth Chandpur-Faridganj Bhasa Bir MA Wadud Connecting Bridge over the Dakatia river at Chhoto Shundar (Chandpur Sadar)-Islampur areas (Faridganj ) and a connecting bridge over Shundori canal at Kadirkhil-Proshonnocup villages in Kochua Upazila.
Although the main structures of these bridges were constructed a long ago, the approach roads have not completed yet.
During a recent visit to the bridge, this correspondent has found that commuters are crossing the dilapidated bridge at a risk of life.
With the help of bamboo and wood ladders, people are using this bridge somehow. Patients, children and elderly people get panicked to cross the road.
Contacted, UP member Shahjahan Shikder and ex-UP Chairman Alamgir Hossain have told the FE despite repeated request, the bridge's approach roads were not completed yet.
LGED engineer Abdul Alim Lytton has told the FE, "Contractor Ahsan Habib had been seriously sick for a long time and that's why he couldn't start the work on the approach roads."
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