Staff Reporter, Gaibandha/

A long time dream of the people of Kurigram and Gaibandha in the northern districts. There will be a bridge over the river Teesta. As a result of a long-term movement, the Teesta Bridge of that dream is now going to become a reality. About 75 percent of the work has already been completed. Construction work is progressing rapidly.

It has been found that the total cost of implementing the entire project including the development of 80 kilometers of access roads around this bridge, construction of bridges and culverts on the related roads, earthworks and land acquisition has been estimated at 885 crore rupees. Under the construction project of the main bridge with 31 span, river management work, construction of apartments, installation of 30 pillars and 155 girders are being done on both sides of the bridge.

China State Construction Engineering Limited has been given responsibility for the construction of this 1,490 meter long and 9.6 meter wide bridge in Haripur Kheyaghat area of Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha with the funding of the Saudi government. 367 crore 98 lakh 13 thousand taka has been allocated for the construction of the main bridge with one kilometer approach road on both sides. From Setu Point via Belka Bazar to Sundarganj Upazila Sadar, Panchpir Bazar and from Panchpir Bazar to Dharampur to Gaibandha Sadar Upazila’s Hatlakshipur Bazar via Sadullapur Upazila Town to Dhaperhat to connect Rangpur-Dhaka highway. Development work of Shobhaganj Bazar in Sundarganj to Panchpir Bazar Point, Matherhat to Baruahat Wapda Dam, Matherhat to Kamarjani port road in Sadar Upazila.

These roads are being upgraded to 18 meters wide. Land is acquired for this purpose. 58 new box culverts and 9 RCC bridges are being constructed on these roads. Among them, one 96 meters long, two 48 meters long, two 20 meters long, one 16 meters long and 12 meters long 3 bridges are under construction. After the construction of the bridge is completed, 5 upazilas including Chilmari, Ulipur of Kurigram and Sundarganj, Sadullapur and Sadar upazilas of Gaibandha will be the capital of millions of people in eastern and southern regions and the door of locally produced agricultural products and other goods will be opened directly to the market.

In this regard, LGED’s Gaibandha Executive Engineer Shabiul Islam said that he has taken it as a challenge to complete the entire project including the Teesta Bridge within the stipulated time. Accordingly the work is going on. Piling work has already been completed. Installation of caps along with 30 pillars of the main bridge, addition of 75 out of 155 girders has been completed. The rest are also in progress. On the other hand, out of 31 spans, 14 spans have already been completed.