Long traffic jams plague Khulna’s Gallamary amid bridge delays

Commuters in Khulna are enduring long traffic jams at Gallamary -- a key gateway to the city -- as a single bridge over the Mayur river struggles to handle mounting traffic amid delays in constructing a new one.

During peak hours, vehicles remain stuck for 30 minutes to two hours, with tailbacks often stretching beyond 1.5 kilometres.

The route is one of 18 major road links connecting Khulna with Dhaka, Barishal and Satkhira. Around 500 buses and trucks use it daily, alongside 5,500 to 6,000 easy bikes, three-wheelers and other small vehicles from surrounding upazilas.

According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the existing bridge, built in 2013 at Tk 6.9 crore and opened in 2015, was constructed too low, preventing even small vessels from passing underneath.

To address this, authorities undertook a project to build a steel-structure bridge at the site.

Work began in October 2023 under a contractor (National Development Engineers Ltd), with an initial deadline of April 2025 -- later extended twice to June 30, 2026. So far, around 60 percent of the work has been completed.

An RHD official, requesting anonymity, said construction remained stalled following political changeover after August 5, 2024, along with security and administrative uncertainties. Delays in importing structural materials also slowed progress.

Md Tanimul Hoque, executive engineer of RHD Khulna, told The Daily Star that the bridge is expected to be completed by June.

However, the approach and service roads, about one kilometre, are unlikely to be ready by then due to shortages of key materials.

“We need around 1,000 tonnes of bitumen, which we are struggling to procure. Our daily fuel requirement is 2,500 litres, but we get only about 200 litres,” he said, warning that public suffering may persist.

Meanwhile, a large kitchen market on the western side of the bridge draws thousands of buyers daily from six upazilas of Khulna and Bagerhat, further intensifying congestion.

Khulna Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that police are trying to keep traffic moving, but the situation remains difficult due to excessive pressure.

“About 10,000 easy bikes are licensed in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) area, but nearly 50,000 operate in reality. Many more enter from outside the city and cross the bridge, making traffic control challenging,” he said.

He also pointed to the nearby market. “Buyers, shopkeepers and waste from the market disrupt traffic flow. We are coordinating with relevant authorities to address the issue.”

“Almost every day, we have to wait at least an hour on both sides of the bridge,” said Belal Hossain, an easy-bike driver from Batiaghata upazila.

“Passengers get frustrated and often argue with us. Construction materials scattered on the road have made movement even more difficult.”

Nirupom Baidya, a resident of Khulna city, said commuters sometimes get down from vehicles and walk with their belongings to avoid the traffic jam.

“It is hard to understand why such an important project has not been completed on time,” he said, adding that dust and congestion have made daily commuting unbearable.

Gouranga Nandy, vice-president of the Conscious Citizen Committee, Khulna unit, said civic groups have formed human chains demanding quick completion. “However, we have not seen any visible progress in recent months.”

KCC Administrator Nazrul Islam Monju said he had visited the site and witnessed commuters’ plight.

Citing officials, he said efforts are underway to complete the bridge work within the next two and a half months.