Tajul Islam Rakib, Louhajang (Munshiganj)
The construction of the Naopara Bridge over the Poraganga Canal, adjacent to Hat Naopara Bazar in Baulatoli Union of Louhajang Upazila of Munshiganj, has not been completed even after nearly two years of demolition and disconnection. The people of Dupar are suffering due to this. The project expired on March 3 this year. Naopara is the meeting point of three upazilas: Lauhajang, Srinagar, and Sirajdikhan. And next to the bridge is Naopara Market. The absence of the bridge has negatively affected the rural economy surrounding one of the largest markets in the district. Marketing of agricultural products has become difficult. However, the upazila engineer says that this project worth Tk 4 crore will end the crisis and make it possible to open a new bridge this year. A bamboo bridge of about 100 meters has been built next to the bridge under construction to allow pedestrian crossing without diversion. There are about 700 businesses in the market on both sides of the bridge. There are two cold storages nearby to the south of the bridge. 70 percent of the potatoes in the cold storage come from the neighboring upazilas of Srinagar and Sirajdikhan. They suffered severely because the Bailey Bridge was demolished to build a concrete bridge and no alternative road was provided. Moreover, earlier, buses used to run from Kheterpara in Louhajang Upazila to Dhaka via Malir Ank and Naopara. Now that bus services on this road have been suspended, people in this area are having a hard time commuting to and from Dhaka. In addition, auto-rickshaw drivers on both sides of the bridge are facing difficulties due to the lack of alternative roads. They said their income has also decreased. Commuters are spending more time crossing the road using bamboo bridges instead of alternative roads. Elderly people are having difficulty moving around. The contractor is blaming LGED for not including alternative roads in the project. And LGED says that an alternative road was not built on the advice of local public representatives. Road cement trader Abdur Tushar Manik said that local shopkeepers use this road to bring and receive various products from Dhaka. There are shops and establishments selling various heavy goods including rods, cement, tin. Everyone is suffering as the road is completely closed. They have to go around many areas to bring and receive goods in the Malir Ank area on the southern end of the bridge. Upazila Engineer Rezaul Islam said that the work of tying rods is in its final stages and the main work will be completed by casting the bridge within the next few days. And after finishing, vehicles will be able to drive on the bridge from December. The Upazila Engineering Office said that the construction of the 46-meter-long RCC girder bridge began on October 4, 2023, as per the contract date. The project cost is estimated at 4 crore 1 lakh 68 thousand 228 taka. Contractor Md. Nayeb Ali Khan has claimed that the bridge’s infrastructure progress is already 70-80 percent. And the financial progress of the work is 30 percent.