MADHUPUR, TANGAIL, May 30: A bridge without approach roads over the Lohojong River in Madhupur Upazila of the district is causing immense public sufferings.
The bridge was built at about Tk 4 crore three years back at Kochuadanga-Charpathli point of the river which flows through the middle of Tangail Municipality.
The contractor left the site without completing its approach roads.
At present, people are using wood ladders and bamboos for passing the bridge.
According to field sources, there is no construction signboard hanged at the bridge site. The municipality mayor and its engineering department declined to give any information in this regard.
Public communication and transport service are hampered. Students are in great disarray. Small and big accidents occur on the bridge.
Locals said, after independence, a bamboo pathway was raised at the point for local communication. Later on, a bridge construction over the river was initiated. The work order was given to Dhakas contracting firm Sony Enterprise.
The project was financed by the municipality. Its construction was completed three years back; but two approach roads were not made.
A recent visit found the bridge in useless form in the absence of filled link roads; locals were seen passing the bridge taking life risks due to lack of the link roads; and garbage files on both sides of the road are spreading foul smells.
Locals demanded completion of the bridge with link roads.
While talking with this correspondent of The Daily Observer, students said, they get it risky and trouble to get on the bridge by climbing ladders; old people are suffering the most.
On condition of anonymity, an assistant teacher said, after construction of the bridge, the contractor left away; many people are getting injured while trying to get on the bridge with aid of ladders; despite application to the municipality, it did not work; people are getting injured in accidents frequently at night.
Some locals said, though the bridge was constructed many years back, it has not been coming of any use of people; people are suffering in bringing patients to hospital and carrying dead body.
A councillor of Ward No. 11 of Tangail Municipality Mehedi Hasan Alim said, according to demand of locals, the bridge was constructed, in place of bamboo pathway; but the contractor left the site without filling the approach roads of both sides of the bridge; despite several times of discussions with the contractor, it did not work.
Municipality Mayor SM Sirajul Haq Alamgir said, a letter has already been sent to Dhaka for confiscating deposit money of the contractor; if response is received in favour of the letter, then through tender, link roads will be constructed.
