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The government is likely to simultaneously open 100 new bridges at the end of this month, giving a big boost to the country's road network.
Most of the bridges have been constructed on regional highways and district roads and these would replace risky Bailey bridges and narrow and dilapidated ones.
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the implementing agency of the bridges, has spent Tk 906.32 crore to construct the bridges, which will increase the reliability and efficiency of its road network.
The highest 41 bridges would be opened in Khagrachhari, followed by 18 bridges, including the long-awaited Kushiara and Surma bridges, to be inaugurated in Sunamganj.
The total length of the 100 bridges would be around 5.87km.
"Opening of 100 bridges simultaneously would be a historic moment for the country," said RHD's Chief Engineer AKM Manir Hossain Pathan.
He said they were taking preparations for opening the bridges, and the date of inauguration would be set upon getting consent from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"We hope the bridges would be opened within this month," he told The Daily Star yesterday.
One important aspect is that all the bridges have been built with the government funds and all the designs are developed by the bridge wing of RHD, the chief engineer added.
On October 10, Hasina inaugurated the Modhumoti Bridge in Narail and Bir Muktijodhhda AKM Nasim Osman 3rd Shitalakkhya Bridge in Narayanganj.
Speaking at the event, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader sought time from the prime minister to open the 100 bridges.
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Quader said the prime minister would take part virtually in the inauguration programme held in at least three places, where most of the bridges would be opened.
There are over 4,500 bridges and around 13,800 culverts under the 22,476km road network of RHD. Of the road network, 3,991km is national highways, 4,897km regional highways and 13,588km district roads.
National highways connect the capital with divisional headquarters, sea ports, land ports and international highways. Regional highways connect district towns with river ports and land ports. District roads link district towns with upazila headquarters or one upazila HQ with another.
Shishir Kanti Routh, additional chief engineer (bridge management wing) of RHD, said opening the 100 bridges would further increase the capacity and efficiency of the road network.
He added that around half of the 100 bridges would be opened in three hilly districts, which would improve the road communications of the region and boost tourism there.
Shishir said they would replace all Bailey and narrow bridges gradually and already started a feasibility study for constructing over 100 more bridges.
Ataur Rahman, additional chief engineer of Chattogram zone of RHD, said out of 45 bridges, the highest 41 would be opened in Khagrachhari, two in Dohazari in Chattogram and one each in Rangamati and Bandarban.
Most of the bridges are on district roads and some on the regional highways, and the bridges would mainly replace Bailey bridges, he told this correspondent yesterday.
Mahmud Al-Nur Salehin, RHD's Rangamati division executive engineer, also currently working as executive engineer of Khagrachhari, said the number of roads in the hilly districts are very limited.
The roads often become non-operational following the collapse of any of the Bailey bridges, he said.
"So, construction of the new bridges will ensure uninterrupted road communications between different districts and upazilas," he told The Daily Star yesterday.
All 18 bridges, including the long-awaited Kushiara ones, in the Sylhet zone will be inaugurated from Sunamganj.
The project to construct the 702m bridge over the Kushiara river in Sunamganj began in June 2014 and it was supposed to be completed within three years. The bridge, which has been constructed spending Tk 155 crore, is finally going to open.
Opening of the bridge will cut distance between Sunamganj and Dhaka by 55km as the bridgewill directly link the district withDhaka-Sylhet highway, Ashraful Islam Pramanik, executive engineer of Sunamganj RHD, told this correspondent.
Another major bridge is the 402m Surma bridge, which will connect Doarabazar upazila and Chatak upazila headquarters with Sylhet city directly, he said. Other bridges, all two-lane ones, will actually replace narrow and risky Bailey bridges, he added.
Out of 14 bridges in the Barishal zone, four are in Barishal, Jhalakathi and Pirojpur each and two in Patuakhali, said Masud Mahmud Sumon, executive engineer of Barishal RHD.
www.thedailystar.net
Most of the bridges have been constructed on regional highways and district roads and these would replace risky Bailey bridges and narrow and dilapidated ones.
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the implementing agency of the bridges, has spent Tk 906.32 crore to construct the bridges, which will increase the reliability and efficiency of its road network.
The highest 41 bridges would be opened in Khagrachhari, followed by 18 bridges, including the long-awaited Kushiara and Surma bridges, to be inaugurated in Sunamganj.
The total length of the 100 bridges would be around 5.87km.
"Opening of 100 bridges simultaneously would be a historic moment for the country," said RHD's Chief Engineer AKM Manir Hossain Pathan.
He said they were taking preparations for opening the bridges, and the date of inauguration would be set upon getting consent from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"We hope the bridges would be opened within this month," he told The Daily Star yesterday.
One important aspect is that all the bridges have been built with the government funds and all the designs are developed by the bridge wing of RHD, the chief engineer added.
On October 10, Hasina inaugurated the Modhumoti Bridge in Narail and Bir Muktijodhhda AKM Nasim Osman 3rd Shitalakkhya Bridge in Narayanganj.
Speaking at the event, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader sought time from the prime minister to open the 100 bridges.
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Quader said the prime minister would take part virtually in the inauguration programme held in at least three places, where most of the bridges would be opened.
There are over 4,500 bridges and around 13,800 culverts under the 22,476km road network of RHD. Of the road network, 3,991km is national highways, 4,897km regional highways and 13,588km district roads.
National highways connect the capital with divisional headquarters, sea ports, land ports and international highways. Regional highways connect district towns with river ports and land ports. District roads link district towns with upazila headquarters or one upazila HQ with another.
Shishir Kanti Routh, additional chief engineer (bridge management wing) of RHD, said opening the 100 bridges would further increase the capacity and efficiency of the road network.
He added that around half of the 100 bridges would be opened in three hilly districts, which would improve the road communications of the region and boost tourism there.
Shishir said they would replace all Bailey and narrow bridges gradually and already started a feasibility study for constructing over 100 more bridges.
41 BRIDGES IN KHAGRACHHARI
The highest 45 bridges would be opened in Chattogram zone of RHD, 18 in Sylhet, 14 in Barishal, two in Dhaka, six in Mymensingh, one in Cumilla, five in Gopalganj and Rajshahi each and four in Rangpur zones.Ataur Rahman, additional chief engineer of Chattogram zone of RHD, said out of 45 bridges, the highest 41 would be opened in Khagrachhari, two in Dohazari in Chattogram and one each in Rangamati and Bandarban.
Most of the bridges are on district roads and some on the regional highways, and the bridges would mainly replace Bailey bridges, he told this correspondent yesterday.
Mahmud Al-Nur Salehin, RHD's Rangamati division executive engineer, also currently working as executive engineer of Khagrachhari, said the number of roads in the hilly districts are very limited.
The roads often become non-operational following the collapse of any of the Bailey bridges, he said.
"So, construction of the new bridges will ensure uninterrupted road communications between different districts and upazilas," he told The Daily Star yesterday.
All 18 bridges, including the long-awaited Kushiara ones, in the Sylhet zone will be inaugurated from Sunamganj.
The project to construct the 702m bridge over the Kushiara river in Sunamganj began in June 2014 and it was supposed to be completed within three years. The bridge, which has been constructed spending Tk 155 crore, is finally going to open.
Opening of the bridge will cut distance between Sunamganj and Dhaka by 55km as the bridgewill directly link the district withDhaka-Sylhet highway, Ashraful Islam Pramanik, executive engineer of Sunamganj RHD, told this correspondent.
Another major bridge is the 402m Surma bridge, which will connect Doarabazar upazila and Chatak upazila headquarters with Sylhet city directly, he said. Other bridges, all two-lane ones, will actually replace narrow and risky Bailey bridges, he added.
Out of 14 bridges in the Barishal zone, four are in Barishal, Jhalakathi and Pirojpur each and two in Patuakhali, said Masud Mahmud Sumon, executive engineer of Barishal RHD.
100 new bridges opening at once
The government is likely to simultaneously open 100 new bridges at the end of this month, giving a big boost to the country’s road network.
