Risky bailey bridge stands in way of Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge

LALMONIRHAT, June 08: A risky bailey bridge over the Ratnai river in the district's Sadar upazila is barring locals from reaping maximum benefits of the Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge over the Dharla river.
"We are happy to get the newly constructed bridge over the Dharla between Lalmonirhat Sadar and Kurigram's Phulbari upazila. But we are upset over the risky bailey bridge since heavy vehicles, especially loaded trucks, are not allowed over the bailey bridge," said local businessman Abdur Rahim.
"Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge will help us if a concrete bridge is built in place of the bailey bridge," he added.
As the risky bailey bridge is not fit for plying of heavy vehicles, they have to spend additional cost to transport goods by light vehicles, said another businessman Samsul Alam.
Visiting the bailey bridge, this correspondent found that only people and light vehicles like rickshaws and motorcycles were plying the bridge.
Rahim Uddin, an elderly man, said, "The bailey bridge was constructed around 40 years ago. Now it is fully unfit for the movement of traffic."
When contacted, Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat's Roads and Highways Department Khalid Saifullah Sarker said, "The design of a bridge over the Ratnai river has already been done. It is waiting for the final approval by the authorities."
"We hope a tender notice will be floated for the construction within a very short time," he added.
He further said, "When the new bridge is constructed, the people of both the sides can enjoy the maximum benefits of the Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge and bring economic changes for both the districts."
More than 1.5 million people of both the districts have been benefitted by the bridge directly.

ahasnathrana@yahoo.com