The work of a new bridge over the Ratnai River in Kulaghat area of Lalmonirhat sadar upazila is progressing at a slow pace. The delay in the construction of the bridge, that is being built to ensure the full utilization and benefits of the Dharla Bridge, is hampering the economic activities in four upazilas including three in Kurigram district and one in Lalmonirhat.
Even though large vehicles can cross the Dharla Bridge, they cannot cross the existing baily bridge over the Ratnai river just one kilometer away from the Dharla Bridge. As a result, the traders and business people of Kurigram and Lalmonirhat are facing problems in carrying their products to other parts of the country. Moreover, they are not benefitting from the Dharla Bridge, built at a cost of Tk 206 crore and 85 lakhs.
The Dharla Bridge, with a length of 950 metres and width of 9.5 metres was opened for vehicle movement in 2018. Later, government took initiative to build a bridge over Ratnai River for the full utilization of the Dharla Bridge, as large vehicles could not cross the existing bailey bridge. However, the work of the new bridge, that is being constructed under Roads and Highway Department, is progressing slowly. This is hampering business of people in Phulbari, Nageshwari, and Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram district.
Lalmonirhat Roads and Highway Department said a bridge spanning 130 metres in length and 10.5 metres in width is being constructed over the Ratnai River at a cost of Tk 23 crore. The construction began on December 15 in 2022, and is scheduled for completion by January 18, 2025. However, only 60 percent of the bridge work has been completed so far. An additional Tk 2.9 crore has been allocated for acquiring land on both sides to build the connecting roads. The bridge is being built by a contracting firm named Concrete & Steel Technology.
There are various issues regarding the land acquisition for the bridge's connecting roads, which, along with other factors, slowed down the construction of the Ratnai Bridge significantly. As a result, the people and businessmen of Kurigram and Lalmonirhat remain deprived of the full benefits of Dharla Bridge in Phulbari, even though it was inaugurated six years ago.
Meanwhile, due to the dilapidated condition of the bailey bridge over the Ratnai River, located just 1 kilometer from the Phulbari Dharla Bridge in the Kulaghat area of Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, thousands of people from both districts are facing severe difficulties while crossing it, even with light vehicles. Until the new bridge is constructed, large vehicles for night coaches and cargo transport from Phulbari to Dhaka cannot cross the river through this area. Small and large businesses in Phulbari, Nageshwari, and Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram, as well as Lalmonirhat sadar upazila are lagging behind commercially because of this.
Local businessmen Jahangir Alam and Ekramul Haque said the Dharla Bridge was inaugurated six years ago. However, the bridge over the Ratnai River at Kulaghat in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila remains incomplete till now. We, the residents of Phulbari, are forced to transport goods to shops in small amounts using small trucks and pickups over the dilapidated bailey bridge on the Ratnai River. We don't know how long we will have to wait.
Businessmen Shunil Chandra Roy and Aminul Islam said the under construction bridge over the Ratnai River in Kulaghat area is very important for us. We are still using the old and risky bailey bridge over the Ratnai River. Only light vehicles can use the bridge. As trucks cannot cross the bridge, we cannot use the bridge to carry our products. Due to that, business between Lamonrihat town and Phulbari, Nageshwari and Bhurungamari upazila is being affected.
Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat Roads and Highway Department, Md Abdul Momen, said due to complications in the land acquisition for the connecting road, the construction of the bridge had come to a standstill. An allocation of Tk 2.9 crore has been approved for the land acquisition. The payments to the landowners will be made promptly. The construction work on the bridge will be completed by 2025, and it will be opened for vehicle movement.
