Another big dream of the people of some districts of south-western region including Narail district is going to be fulfilled very soon. After the dream 'Padma Bridge', this time the country's first six-lane desired 'Kalna Bridge' is going to be opened. The main work of the bridge has been completed. Just waiting for the opening. Now the work is going on with the lighting. When this bridge is opened, the birthplace of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be directly connected with the Gopalganj district by road.
According to sources, the bridge is being fully prepared for traffic by August 30. The date of the inauguration is to be finalized after the consent of the Prime Minister.
The bridge authorities along with billions of people in the southwestern region including Gopalganj, Faridpur, Narail, Jashore, Benapole, Satkhira are waiting.
Kalna Bridge has been constructed with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Cross Border Road Network Improvement Project of the Department of Roads and Highways.
Locals said that due to the suffering of the ferry crossing at Kalnaghat, the people of Narail, Jashore, Benapole, Noapara Shilpanagar, Bhomra land port in Satkhira are deprived of the direct benefits of the Padma Bridge. Kalnaghat of Narail is on the other side. Shankar Pasha of Gopalganj is on the other side. Madhumati River flows through the middle. Kalna Bridge is built on this river.
The Kalna Bridge may be opened for traffic in the first week of September after approval from the Prime Minister. Local vehicle drivers said that the ferry port means suffering. Once the Kalna Bridge is opened, that suffering will no longer exist.
Ashrafuzzaman, Project Manager of Kalna Bridge and Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Directorate (SOAZ) Narail said, Kalna is the first six-lane bridge in the country. It is a Nelson Low Arch type (curved like a bow) bridge.
The length of the bridge is 690 meters and the width is 27.1 meters. The six-lane connecting road on both sides is about 4 and a half kilometers.
The total cost of construction of the bridge is about Tk 960 crore. It is located on the Asian Highway. In terms of road communication, it will play a direct role through Sylhet's Tamabil to Dhaka, Bhanga, Narail, Jessore, Benapole, Kolkata.
However, the Madhumati River stream was interrupted at Kalna Point for a long time. As a result of the construction of the bridge, that gap no longer exists. If Kalna Setu is opened, it will play a role not only in the national field but also in the international field. Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira, Benapole and Noapara River Ports between India, Kolkata, Assam will mark the milestone of connectivity. With the launch of EPZ (Export Processing Zone) at Lohagara in Narail, expansion of business and massive employment will be created.
According to related sources, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of 'Kalna Setu' on January 24, 2015. Distance
from Kalnaghat to Dhaka is only 108 km.
As a result, the road connectivity between Dhaka and the surrounding areas including Narail, Benapole, Jashore, Khulna will be reduced by 100 km in some places and 200 km in some places.
However, although 'express way' has been constructed from Dhaka to Bhanga in Faridpur, no such road has been constructed from Bhanga to Benapole. As a result, a large part of the south-western region is not getting the benefits of the 'express way'.
Two lane road from Bhanga to Narail-Jashore-Benapole is currently operational. Ashrafuzzaman, project manager of Kalna Bridge, said that the construction of the expressway road in this part is under the project. He said that if the Kalna Bridge is opened, the traffic pressure will increase. So for the time being initiative has been taken to widen 52 km road from Manihar cinema hall square in Jessore to Kalnaghat in Narail. At present the road is 18 feet wide but it will be increased to 24 feet.
Tender work is in final stage. If the tender is approved, I will give the work order within two weeks. Road widening will be done at a cost of about 47 crores in Narail section and 32 crores in Jessore section.
The work will be completed within one year. For this purpose, tree felling work has started on both sides of the road. Panel Mayor of Lohagara Municipality Razia Sultana said, crossing the Padma River (Mawa-Kanthalbaria Ghat area) and Madhumati River (Kalna Ghat) on the road from Narail-Lohagara to Dhaka was a major problem. The suffering of the Mawa-Kanthalbaria ghat area has come to an end due to the Padma bridge of dreams. And when the dream Kalna Setu is opened, the rest of the suffering will end. We will be free.
President of Lohagara Upazila Jubo League Md. Ashraful Alam said that Padma Bridge is a big success of the current government's development.
Along with Kalna Bridge. Construction of bridge at Kalna Ghat was a promise of Hon'ble Prime Minister. Today that promise has been fulfilled. Now we are waiting for the opening.
