Thousands suffer as work on bridge suspended

Construction work of Lohalia Bridge on the Lohalia River on Patuakhali-Dashmina via Baufal road has remained suspended for over a year after completion of some 55 percent work, much to the sufferings of thousands of people of the area.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) authorities suspended the work as the Payra sea port authority raised objection on its height.

As a result, Tk 29.4 crore has already been spent for building the bridge and acquisition of land.

In 2008, Patuakhali LGED took up a plan to build a bridge on the Lohalia River on Patuakhali-Dashmina via Baufal road to ease road communication of all eight upazilas in Patuakhali district and also in Bhola and Barguna districts.

The construction work of the 464-metre long girder bridge was started in November 2011 and was scheduled to end on October 20 in 2014 at a cost of Tk 46 crore, sources at Patuakhai LGED said.

Initially Tk 3.75 crore has been spent to acquisition 4.951 acres of land. But after completion of 55 percent work, the LGED authorities stopped construction work of the bridge on October 1 in 2014 as per decision jointly taken by LGED and the Shipping Ministry and since then all work on the bridge was stalled. LGED already paid Tk 25.29 crore to the construction firm, a source said.

Thousands of people of Baufal, Dashmina and Galachipa upazilas are suffering a lot to cross the river near Patuakhali district town as construction of the bridge became uncertain.

Md Khokon Mia, a teacher of a non-government college, said "I go to my college regularly by crossing the river by trawler which is a very hazardous journey."

Contacted, Abu Saleh Md Hanif, executive engineer of Patuakhai LGED, said they started construction work as height was 9.57 metres.

"We couldn't consider the Payra sea port in Kalapara upazila at the time of taking approval of the bridge. But the Shipping Ministry later raised their objection over its height and they suggested increasing its height to 18.30 meters, which is impossible," he said. 

They talked to the Payra port authorities several times to solve the problem but in vain, the engineer said, adding that they are waiting for final decision from the higher authorities.

Despite repeated calls, this correspondent could not reach Md Saidur Rahman, member of Payra sea port authority, for his comment on the issue as he did not answer.