Over 13pc bridges in country's six zones vulnerable

Over 13 per cent of the bridges in six zones across the country are in different stages of vulnerability, with over 8.0 requiring immediate maintenance.
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD), in its first round of inspection of 15,437 bridges and culverts in Cumilla, Rangpur, Barishal, Khulna, Chattogram and Sylhet, detected that 4.0 per cent or 712 bridges are already in a risky condition.
Though the inspection found 86.8 per cent in good condition, the RHD inspection team recommended immediate maintenance of 1,277 bridges and culverts to check those from deteriorating to bad and risky condition.
These were shared during a seminar on 'Bangladesh bridges: A roadmap for safety, sustainability and hazard mitigation', held at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) on Monday.
Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor (CA) on Road Transport and Bridges, Sheikh Moinuddin, was present at the seminar as the chief guest. BUET Vice Chancellor A B M Badruzzaman and RHD Chief Engineer Syed Mainul Hasan were the special guests.
Bangladeshi expatriate and Director of Next-gen Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Lab, University of Texas at Arlington, Nur Yazdani, presented the keynote paper in the seminar.
RHD Additional Chief Engineer Shishir Kanti Routh highlighted the RHD Bridge Wing's latest findings on bridge inspection in six zones (out of total 10).
Professor Mohammad Shamsul Hoque, Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Quazi Mohammad Ferdous, Project Director of SASEC-II Mohammad Waliur Rahman, and Project Manager Ashik Kadir also spoke on the occasion, among others.
In his speech, CA's Special Assistant Dr Moinuddin called for following international standard of infrastructure development by applying local experiences.
He said various changes have taken place in bridge design and construction methodology and equipment as well as operation and maintenance, which have to be followed.
The keynote speaker said deficiency in bridge quality is caused by natural factors and/or human factors, like flood, earthquake, landslide, design error, construction error, collision and overloading. The country's bridge design, vehicle configuration, and loading are higher than AASHTO specification.
Shishir Kanti Routh said early detection of defect in the bridges for ensuring safety of users and bridge structure cannot be possible due to lack of expertise and equipment.
RHD started collecting bridge data in 2015 under a JICA-funded project and completed inspection of bridges in six zones till 2024. The first round will end after completing inspection of the bridges in four other zones by 2026.
Citing the inspection as the most important first step for assessment process of physical condition of bridges, he also said surveillance patrol, routine checkup in six months to two years of interval, and visual and mechanical inspection are also necessary.

smunima@yahoo.com