Tangail

Risky bridges disrupt traffic movement

Out of 10 bridges and three culverts, the R&H Department Declared 7 bridges and 3 culverts vulnerable in 2011

At least 13 bridges and culverts on 38 kilometres of Tangail-Bhuapur-Dhaka road are in bad shape and might cave in unless they are repaired soon.
Most of the bridges are located in Bhuapur and Kalihati upazilas of the district.  Deck slabs of Kagmaripara Bridge have been damaged disrupting road communications.  
There are 10 narrow bridges and three culverts on 38-km road that connects Elenga, Tarakandi, Bhuapur and Tangail with Dhaka. Jamuna Fertiliser Factory is situated in Tarakandi.
Hundreds of trucks ply through the road every day carrying fertiliser to different districts. Buses and other transports also run on the road for Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, Sirajganj and other destinations.
Out of 10 bridges and three culverts, the Roads and Highways Department in Tangail declared seven bridges and three culverts vulnerable back in 2011.
The bridges identified as vulnerable are: Rouha Bridge, Fultala Bridge, Rajabari Bridge, Singuria Bridge, Kagmaripara Bridge, Soya Bridge, Tatihara Bridge and box culverts in Narandia, and Sialkhol on Elenga- Tarakandi road and Bagbari box culvert on Bhuapur –Bangabandhu Bridge road in Bhuapur and Kalihati upazila of the district.
The bridges were built before the independence of the country. Most of them have now become old, worn out and dilapidated. The railings of the bridges have also been broken.
The deck-slab of Kagmaripara Bridge has been damaged on June 8 disrupting road communication.
The bridge was damaged partly in 1998. Roads and Highways Department set up deck slabs on the damaged part.
The bridge has not been repaired or reconstructed since 17 years.
UNO of Bhuapur Md Helaluzzaman Sarker has ordered suspension of vehicular movement through the bridge for fear of disaster and posted law enforcers to avert accident.
Truck driver Kalu Mia of Madhupur told the correspondent that they were using the road with much risk. The bridges might collapse at any time causing loses to lives and properties.
Alim Uddin, a bus driver of Dhaka-Bhuapur highway, said the bridges and culverts have become vulnerable since 2011.
But these are not repaired. Locals said the road is used as an alternative way at the time of traffic congestion on Dhaka-BJMB highway.
The Roads and Highways department has sought an allocation of Tk 89 crores for repairing seven bridges and three culverts on emergency basis in 2011. But the department could not execute the projects for non allocation of fund. The department also sent the same proposal in the month of December, 2014.
Nure Alam, executive engineer of the department, said they have repaired the Kagmaripara Bridge temporarily. Transports have started moving through the bridge since Tuesday.
They are trying to get allocation of fund to repair the bridges and culverts.

 

Tangail

Risky bridges disrupt traffic movement

Out of 10 bridges and three culverts, the R&H Department Declared 7 bridges and 3 culverts vulnerable in 2011

At least 13 bridges and culverts on 38 kilometres of Tangail-Bhuapur-Dhaka road are in bad shape and might cave in unless they are repaired soon. Most of the bridges are located in Bhuapur and Kalihati upazilas of the district. Deck slabs of Kagmaripara Bridge have been damaged disrupting road communications. There are 10 narrow bridges and three culverts on 38-km road that connects Elenga, Tarakandi, Bhuapur and Tangail with Dhaka. Jamuna Fertiliser Factory is situated in Tarakandi. Hundreds of trucks ply through the road every day carrying fertiliser to different districts. Buses and other transports also run on the road for Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, Sirajganj and other destinations. Out of 10 bridges and three culverts, the Roads and Highways Department in Tangail declared seven bridges and three culverts vulnerable back in 2011. The bridges identified as vulnerable are: Rouha Bridge, Fultala Bridge, Rajabari Bridge, Singuria Bridge, Kagmaripara Bridge, Soya Bridge, Tatihara Bridge and box culverts in Narandia, and Sialkhol on Elenga- Tarakandi road and Bagbari box culvert on Bhuapur Bangabandhu Bridge road in Bhuapur and Kalihati upazila of the district. The bridges were built before the independence of the country. Most of them have now become old, worn out and dilapidated. The railings of the bridges have also been broken. The deck-slab of Kagmaripara Bridge has been damaged on June 8 disrupting road communication. The bridge was damaged partly in 1998. Roads and Highways Department set up deck slabs on the damaged part. The bridge has not been repaired or reconstructed since 17 years. UNO of Bhuapur Md Helaluzzaman Sarker has ordered suspension of vehicular movement through the bridge for fear of disaster and posted law enforcers to avert accident. Truck driver Kalu Mia of Madhupur told the correspondent that they were using the road with much risk. The bridges might collapse at any time causing loses to lives and properties. Alim Uddin, a bus driver of Dhaka-Bhuapur highway, said the bridges and culverts have become vulnerable since 2011. But these are not repaired. Locals said the road is used as an alternative way at the time of traffic congestion on Dhaka-BJMB highway. The Roads and Highways department has sought an allocation of Tk 89 crores for repairing seven bridges and three culverts on emergency basis in 2011. But the department could not execute the projects for non allocation of fund. The department also sent the same proposal in the month of December, 2014. Nure Alam, executive engineer of the department, said they have repaired the Kagmaripara Bridge temporarily. Transports have started moving through the bridge since Tuesday. They are trying to get allocation of fund to repair the bridges and culverts.