Bridge Worth Around Tk 7 Crore, But No Connecting Road

Ujirpur (Barisal) Upazila Correspondent

A bridge built at a cost of around 68.3 million taka in Ujirpur, Barisal, has been lying practically useless for a year and a half due to the lack of a connecting road. Although the main construction work of the bridge has been completed, it has not yet been opened for traffic due to the lack of a complete connecting road on both sides. The construction work is stalled due to a dispute over the ownership of the land for the connecting road. As a result, the important infrastructure built at a huge government expense is not being of any use to the people.

The contract price of the 44.06-meter-long RCC girder bridge built with World Bank funding on the Dhamura-Sholak-Batajor road in the upazila is Tk 68.339 crore. According to the project-related information of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the construction of the bridge began on July 17, 2023 under the Rural Bridge Assistance Program. According to the contract, the scheduled completion date for the work was February 13, 2025. But even after the scheduled time, the bridge has not yet been fully operational.

Locals complain that if the land ownership, land title deeds and legal status of the connecting road had been properly verified before the project was taken up, such complications would not have arisen after the bridge was built. Their question is – why was the bridge built at a cost of nearly seven crore taka without securing the necessary land for the connecting road?

The design exists, but there is no physical connection

According to LGED sources, the route of the connecting road to the bridge is specified in the project design. However, as the approach work on both sides of the bridge has not been completed, vehicle movement is not possible. Upazila Engineer Subrata Roy claims that there is about 34 feet of government land available for lowering the bridge slope. However, work on the connection road is stalled due to a dispute with locals over the use of that land.

Once the bridge is operational, it will facilitate communication between people in Dhamura, Sholak and surrounding areas, as well as facilitate the transportation of agricultural products, the movement of students and the general public, and the rapid transfer of emergency patients to medical centers. However, even after the construction is completed, the locals are deprived of these facilities as they are unable to use the bridge.

Land owner’s objection

Abdur Rob Howlader, who claims ownership of the land on both sides of the bridge, including Ratnapur Road and Sholak Bazar Road, said he is the owner of the SA Khatian. He had objected to the construction of the connecting road over his land during the construction of the bridge.

He claimed that at that time, the engineers concerned had informed that necessary land acquisition arrangements would be made as per government rules. But after the construction of the bridge was completed, a different situation arose regarding the use of the land. He also alleged that attempts are being made to use the land without making effective arrangements to compensate the land owners.

Abdur Rab also alleged that he was threatened with legal action and intimidated if he objected. However, he could not immediately produce any documents or evidence to support these allegations. His son Masum Hawlader said that they have approached the court regarding the land dispute. At the same time, a written complaint has been filed with the concerned authorities against the upazila engineer.

‘Creating obstacles for personal gain’

Local social worker Mohammad Enayet Sharif said, “This is a registered road of the Upazila Parishad. Before implementing the project, the road’s land and necessary documents were checked and designed. After that, the bridge construction work began.” He said the project is stuck because one party is obstructing the work of the connecting road by claiming ownership for personal gain. The common people are the ones who are suffering the most. It is necessary to resolve the dispute quickly and launch the bridge.

‘Why is there a dispute if it is private land?’

Local resident Litu Mia said that according to his knowledge, some land on both sides of the bridge is under government private property. There is supposed to be a government road there. Which land is government and which is privately owned – it will be clear only after checking the records of the land office. He said, “If it is government land, there is no question of acquiring private land to build a road there. And if it is private land, action should be taken according to the law. Leaving an important bridge for a long time without clarifying the matter is in no way acceptable.”

In this regard, Ujirpur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Maheshwar Mondal said that he visited the site following the application of the Upazila Engineering Department. There is a record and design of the road name in the current BS survey. However, it is not possible for him to give a final decision on this matter until the final gazette is published. He also said that those concerned have been advised to approach the court to resolve the matter.

LGED claims, ‘Work stopped due to unreasonable obstacles’

Regarding the complaint, Uzirpur Upazila LGED Engineer Subrata Roy said that his department is responsible for the implementation of the bridge built with the funding of the World Bank. Before accepting the project, the ownership of the land was verified by the World Bank representatives and local land office officials. Then the design was prepared and final approval was obtained and the construction work was implemented through tender.

He said that the work on the connecting road has been suspended due to unreasonable obstruction by some local people. This has caused problems not only for the local people but also for the implementing department and contracting company. He also said that the road is in the current BS survey and design. According to LGED information, the work order for the construction of the bridge was received by the joint contracting company M/S Bashundhara and Supti.

Questions regarding project plan as well

If a dispute arises over the land for the connection road even after the construction of the main structure of a bridge at a cost of around seven crore taka, then the question has now come to the fore as to how much land-related issues were verified before the project was taken up.

The real reason for the dispute may be clarified by checking the approved design of the project, Dag-Khatian, SA and BS records, road class, land acquisition documents and compensation payment. Especially if the part of the land required for the link road is government land as claimed by LGED, it is also important to check the current records and practical condition of that land.

The locals demand that the district administration, higher authorities of LGED and the land administration should conduct an immediate on-site investigation. At the same time, the project design and all land-related documents should be verified to determine the actual ownership and legal status.

They hope that the dispute will be resolved quickly and the construction of the connecting road will be completed. Then, the bridge, built at a cost of about 68.3 million taka, will finally be open to public traffic and the long-standing communication problems of the people of Dhamura-Sholak and surrounding areas will end.