Awaiting funds for long to bridge the gaps

25 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra

Two of the several incomplete bridges in Bogra stand idle for lack of approach roads.Photo: STAR

A large number of bridges and culverts in several upazilas of Bogra district are lying unused for years as they could not be completed due mainly to fund crisis. Of a total of 93 bridges and culverts in 12 upazilas of the district, about 75 were constructed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) during six years from 2001 but they are yet to be ready for use as approach roads have not been constructed, official sources said. The bridges and culverts, costing over Tk 100 crore, were constructed to develop road communication with national and regional highways. Sources, however, said a few of them, like Dhawakola culvert in Sadar upazila, were built under the guidance of BNP leaders who mainly considered their personal interest during the BNP-led four-party alliance government. "At least eight bridges and culverts in several areas under Dhunat and Gabtoli upazilas of Bogra district are lying without approach road. Constructed at a cost of Tk 3 crore, Nasipur Bridge in Gabtoli upazila is one of them,” said Md Abul Hossain, executive engineer of RHD Bogra Division. “To utilise the bridges and culverts we have submitted a Tk 15 crore proposal to the ministry concerned but it is yet to be approved," he added. Md Monir Hossain, sub-assistance engineer of Bogra LGED, said the department earlier identified 41 bridges and culverts in the district, which could not be used for lack of approach road, but now most of them are being utilised properly. Many bridges and culverts in Shahajahanpur, Shibganj and Nandigram upazilas are lying unused due to lack of approach roads while several others are yet to see completion of construction due to fund crisis.