People are suffering immensely due to the lack of connecting roads to the newly constructed bridge at Komorbhangi Vitapara under Jaduchar Union in Roumari upazila, Kurigram. Photo : Messenger
A newly constructed concrete footbridge in the Komorbhangi Vitapara area of Roumari upazila, within the Kurigram district, has left the local residents in a state of profound distress due to the absence of connecting roads.
Roumari upazila, facing a unique geographical challenge, is effectively isolated by the formidable Brahmaputra River. Most of the local roads are unpaved and have suffered damage from periodic flooding. In response to these challenges, a bridge was erected over a canal on the embankment in Komorbhangi Vitapara, with the hope of facilitating smoother transportation for the local population. Regrettably, despite the bridge's construction, people continue to grapple with a severe lack of access to roads connecting to it, rendering it largely useless.
This concrete footbridge came at a substantial cost, exceeding Tk 70 lakhs, and was intended to benefit over fifty thousand residents in the region. However, the reality on the ground is vastly different. People from various walks of life, including students and educators from local schools, colleges, and madrasas, are bearing the brunt of this situation.
With no alternatives, villagers have resorted to precarious measures, using makeshift bamboo ladders to access the bridge. This has left the villagers deeply frustrated and disheartened.
Residents from ten different villages, including Komorbhangi Vitapara, Komorbhangi Jamaipara, Putatonpara, Sheberdangi, Pakhiura, and Komorbhangi Uttarpara, under the Jadurchar union of the upazila, rely on these roads daily. Despite the significant investment in the construction of a 15-meter concrete footbridge in the Komorbhangi Vitapara area over the canal during the fiscal year 2021-2022, there remains a glaring absence of connecting roads on both sides of the bridge.
The bridge is situated at a considerable height above the road level, and in emergencies, individuals are forced to resort to bamboo ladders to access the newly constructed bridge. This dire situation has left the villagers feeling as if their investment has gone to waste, and their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Local farmer Monir Hossain from the Sheberdangi area adjacent to the bridge site expressed the villagers' plight, emphasizing the lack of any earthwork on either side of the bridge. This makes it nearly impossible to transport their produce to their homes, causing significant hardships for the community.
Roumari upazila's Project Implementation Officer (PIO), Samsuddin, revealed that no final payments have been made to the contractor responsible for the bridge's construction. In light of the current situation, the concerned contractor has been instructed to undertake repairs on the roads to ensure smoother communication for the local population.
Messenger/Disha
