A newly built pucca bridge over the Shakrail canal in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur district has been lying unused for a long time due to the lack of approach roads to the bridge.

The 36ft-long bridge was constructed by the local government engineering department (LGED) at a cost of Tk. 1.38 crore during the fiscal year 2016–2017.

People have been risking their lives as they now use another bridge made with bamboo and wooden ladders.

Laskardia union parishad (UP) chairman Habibur Rahman said: “It’s the easiest route for the people from eight villages travelling to Phulsuti UP and the upazila headquarters.”

“We’ve made repeated requests to the authorities concerned, but they haven’t taken any steps yet to build the approach roads,” he added. Students of Phulsuti High School and Shakrail Government primary school are the worst sufferers, he noted.

ASM Rafiqul Alam, the contractor of the bridge, said: “The approach roads will be built after the water level in the canal goes down.”

Abdul Hannan, engineer of Nagarkanda upazila parished said: “I can’t make any comment as I’ve joined the office very recently. However, I’ll take necessary steps soon.”