Due to the slow pace in the construction of the Kathaltoli-Rampur bridge on the Sreemanta River at Madhabkhali union under Mirjaganj of Patuakhali , sufferings of people living in the villages both sides have been mounted.
People are using the adjacent risky, iron bridge to cross the river as there having no alternative arrangement to cross the river, Though, according to the work order, the bridge was supposed to be completed within three years, only 40 percent of the works of the bridge have so far been completed by that time.
As a result of such delay in construction, sufferings of the people, specially, of traders carrying goods and the patients to reach the hospitals at the district town, have been increased.
LGED sources informed, financed by JICA, Taka 6(six) crore 64 lakh 90 thousand work order of the construction of the bridge was received jointly by MM Builders and Engineering Ltd and Messers Amir Engineering Corp in 2020-'21 fiscal year. But even after four years, a half of the total construction works have not yet been completed.
Local resident Rinku Begum informed, the contractors are delaying to complete the works of the bridge. As a result, people are using the vulnerable iron bridge to cross the river.
Pedastrian Sumon said the bridge construction is going on in a snail's pace.
Driver Abdus Salam said, there is no headway in competing the construction of the bridge. The old iron bridge being vulnerable, he is failing to drive his vehicle across the river. Amir Hossain, Proprietor of Messers Amir Engineering Corp could not be contacted over mobile phone as he did not receive the calls.
Mirjaganj Upazila Engineer Alamgir Badsha informed, there is negligence of the construction firms in the construction of the bridge. He said, he would ask and insist the contractors to end the construction works of the bridge as soon as possible.