Kajal Baran Das, Patuakhali
As a result of various initiatives of the government, various development exercises are underway in Patuakhali town and adjoining areas.
If the plans for the construction of multiple twin roads, aesthetic lakes and bridges, which are already underway and adopted, are implemented, villages will turn into cities and the traditional canals of the city will regain their normal flow. The embellishment will be complete through the association of people from remote areas to the town people.
As a result of these development activities of the government, the district town has now turned into one of the busiest towns. If this continues, Patuakhali will soon become a developed city like Thailand or Singapore.
With such a plan in mind, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has taken initiative to build several modern and scenic bridges to connect the surrounding unions to Patuakhali district town.
Abdus Sattar, Executive Engineer of Patuakhali LGED, said that beside connecting Kalikapur union of Patuakhali Sadar upazila to the district town in order to help Bahalgachhia canal to regain natural flow, a 81-meter long modern bridge will be constructed removing the embankment behind Patuakhali Sadar upazila.
In the same way, a 81 meter long bridge is being constructed on the Bahalgachhia canal by removing the Gorur dam there, which has been designed in the form of Hatirjheel bridge.
Besides, a 45 meter bridge will be constructed in Kurirkhal area to connect Patuakhali municipal town with Motherbunia Union. This will establish a new connection of Chhotabighai, Barabighai, Marichbunia and Madarbunia Unions with the district town.
Similarly, there is a plan to establish a new connection of Kalikapur Union with Patuakhali Municipality as well as remove an embankment to make the Fultala canal flow naturally and build a 45 meter bridge in that place.
All the works are being carried out by inviting tenders for the construction of 12 bridges in the district considering importance. If these bridges are built, the road communication of the people of this region will be easier and the canals will regain their normal flow. The Executive Engineer also said that water supply for agricultural purposes can be ensured by reclaiming the land occupied by the canal.
Meanwhile, Patuakhali Municipality Mayor Mohiuddin Ahmed said the initiative was taken to ensure the availability of urban facilities in the villages and bring the canals and reservoirs back to normal flow to make the centenary plan of the Prime Minister a reality.
Necessary preparations are being completed to finish the construction of these bridges by June 2021. In addition, the work of rehabilitating the abandoned canal stretched from Ansar camp in the municipal area to Bahalgachhia adjacent to the dam of the upazila, by converting it into an scenic canal is going on in full swing.
Seedlings of various species have been planted on both sides of the canal and like a mini park, benches will be set up too.
Paddle boats will be installed in the lake and the roads adjacent to the lake will be made walking zones. Twin roads are being constructed from the Circuit House junction to the intersection.
Mini Children's Park is being constructed through re-excavation of Forest Pond and Arambagh Dighi. There are also many development master plans to develop Patuakhali district.