Agitation mounts against RCC bridge plan on Surma

The dilapidated Keane bridge on Surm a river in Sylhet city, which is to be replaced with a new bridge. PHOTO: STAR

The bridge will replace the 66-year old existing Keane Bridge.

A hanging bridge project at the site was, approved by the ECNEC earlier, was cancelled recently, sources said.

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Protesting the cancellation, the Greater Sylhet Ganadabi Parishad (Committee to Realise People's Demand), a nonpartisan forum, held a in the city meeting on Friday.

Speakers there termed it a conspiracy and said a tougher agitation will be launched to realise the demand for hanging bridge.

An official on Thursday said a recent NEC meeting decided to construct an RRC bridge to replace the Keane Bridge.

Seven construction firms on May 9 dropped proposals against the tender floated earlier for the RCC bridge, he said.

The tender documents will be opened today. A committee headed by the Sylhet Roads & Highways (R&H) Superintending Engineer will scrutinise the tender documents, official sources said. Tender documents were sold till 28 April, they said.

The R & H will provide Tk 25 crore and implement the project, to be completed in 600 days.

An amount of Tk 25 lakh would be spent to demolish the 66-year old Keane bridge.

Plying of heavy vehicles through the dilapidated bridge was stopped long ago.

The then Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, elected from Sylhet Sadar constituency, first took the initiative to construct a bridge, replacing the old one.

A Tk 55 crore project was then taken up for construction of a 308 metre steel bridge to replace the Keane bridge in 2001. Tender for the 4-lane bridge was also floated and some preliminary works were done.

After the change of government, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman announced that a hanging bridge would be built. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation in February 2003.

The ECNEC at its meeting on October 23, 2002 okayed the project.

International tender was also floated twice-- in 2002 and in 2003. A Swiss-Indonesian firm became the lowest bidder, while a Chinese firm became the second lowest.

The ministry asked for issuing work order while a revised Project Paper was also made and sent to the ECNEC.

But the ECNEC did not finalise it.

The hanging bridge project was cancelled on March 17.

This triggered agitation by political parties, socio-cultural and professional bodies.

A number of meetings and processions were held. Posters have appeared on city walls. Leaders of all political parties including ruling BNP have demanded immediate steps to implement the hanging bridge project. The Parishad will hold a 'grand rally' in the city on May 20 and called a half-day hartal in the district on May 31 to press its demand.