The bane of faulty rural bridges

The number of half-done or sloppily constructed bridges in the rural areas has lately marked a sharp increase in the country. In fact, the already distressing scenario hasn't deteriorated all of a sudden. It's the same old spectacle related to these bridges displaying the signs of decay as they have been showing over the past few decades. Thanks to the years-long gap, the plight of these bridges appears grimmer. Thousands of words have been written on the rural bridge conditions in the print media. But they bore few positive results. In the meantime, scores of rural concrete-made bridges have come up across the country: some of them built negligently resulting in their process of dilapidation soon after construction. And a handful of others have, however, enabled the local people to savour the fruits of using the bridges for short stretches of time. In Bangladesh context, few humble bridges over shrinking rivers or canals could be seen serving the targeted people to their satisfaction. To speak acerbically, crossing these bridges finally leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
Unlike the wooden or bamboo-built improvised bridges, the concrete ones involve formally channelled funds. The money normally comes through the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). At this point, one might feel the imperative of recalling the collaboration that comes from outside. A few years ago, the government received financial assistance from the International Development Assistance (IDA), a member of the World Bank Group, for 'Programme for Supporting Rural Bridges', which was earmarked for implementation by the LGED. The bridges' maintenance was also included in the responsibilities of the authorities concerned. The World Bank's approval of $425 million to improve road connection in Bangladesh through building, maintaining and improving rural bridges to benefit two-thirds of the country's people proved a major development in the bridge sector. The government also took up a project to construct around 13,000 bridges and culverts in rural areas across the country.
To see the proper results, the rural people need only to use the bridges during their times of need. As has been seen in the country's vast rural areas, these bridges have in most cases disappointed the users. Many felt utterly disillusioned. The tales of these bridges are replete with dishonesty, various types of malpractices and the cavalier attitude on the part of the contractors. Most of them are said to be belonging to villages nearby and the greater neighbourhood. Whenever a bridge is found constructed on a weak structure, and thus begins tottering, fingers are pointed at the contractors. There are instances of the collapse of a vital bridge shortly after its construction. These sad tales are told many times.
Photographs of bridges standing for decades without approach roads at their two ends are a common view in the rural areas. Moreover, cracked floors showing the rod frames in the middle of a bridge are a common sight. These construction flaws make many bridges hazardous for aged people and school students. Many bridges have shrunken rivers under them. Small ferry-boats help people cross the river. But the reality is poverty-stricken villagers cannot afford to pay for the ferrying. Except a few, almost all concrete bridges in Bangladesh villages function with one or another defect besetting it. Almost the half portion of a bridge, or a part of it, remaining collapsed, or tilted, is a common feature in rural Bangladesh. In some areas people are fortunate enough to have smoothly operative bridges. The flipside is there are few effective alternatives to using fault-ridden bridges. In the country, farmers need bridges to carry their harvested crops home. Small traders' activities are also expedited by bridges. In all, bridges play a significant role in the country's rural economy.
shihabskr@ymail.com