Pabna bridge remains inaccessible to locals due to lack of approach roads despite project delays
Photo Collected
Residents of Deobhog-Dahpara village in Faridpur Upazila, Pabna, are being forced to rely on makeshift bamboo ladders to access a newly constructed bridge, as the essential approach roads remain incomplete. The project, which faced significant delays, has left locals struggling to cross the Gumani River canal that separates ten surrounding villages.
The bridge project, funded by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, was launched with an allocated budget of 10.64 million taka. Although initial projections aimed for completion by November 2024, the contractor obtained an extension, pushing the deadline to June 30, 2026. Despite this extension, the project remains unfinished, leaving the structure isolated from the road network.
The bridge was designed to connect vital community hubs, including a local mosque, a Union Parishad office, and a government primary school. Without functional approach roads, residents—including students and elderly citizens—must navigate steep and unstable bamboo crossings to traverse the span. Local residents report that the current makeshift solution is hazardous, with several people having already fallen while attempting to climb onto the bridge.
Faridpur Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Md. Manikuzzaman stated that his office has been pressuring the contractor to expedite the remaining work. He added that the contractor has provided assurances that the approach roads will be completed shortly.
The project contractor, Tanvir Ahmed (Sagar), attributed the lengthy delay to a localized shortage of sand, which he claimed forced a temporary halt to construction activities. He has committed to finishing the work within the next two to three weeks.
Umme Imama Banin, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) for Faridpur, has issued strict directives to the contractor to finish the project immediately. She emphasized that the contractor’s final payment will remain suspended until all construction requirements have been fully met and the bridge is rendered accessible to the public.
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