C T Online Desk: The renovation work of Kalurghat railway bridge in Chittagong is not starting from June 1 as previously announced. So the bridge is not closed.
Traffic will be normal.
On Thursday (June 1), the matter was confirmed to BanglaNews by Chief Engineer of Railway Eastern Region. Abu Jafar Mia.
He said, traffic on the bridge is not stopped now. We have not yet decided when it will close. Work on the bridge is likely to begin in mid-June. Therefore, traffic on the bridge will likely be closed in mid-June.
Kalurghat bridge is the way of travel to Chittagong city for 3 lakh people of Boalkhali upazila of Chittagong. Therefore, if the bridge is closed, the people of the upazila will suffer greatly. Two ferries on the Karnaphuli river have been informed as an alternative during the bridge renovation. The Roads and Township Department (SOAZ) said that it will take another month to start the ferry.
Pintu Chakma, executive engineer of the Chittagong district office of the Directorate of Roads and Public Ways said, we will need another month to start the ferry service. They (Railways) will definitely make alternative arrangements if they start the renovation work in the meantime.
Earlier, in the discussion meeting organized at Circuit House of the city, the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways informed about the commencement of Kalurghat bridge renovation work from June. Md. Humayun Kabir. Since then, the anxiety of millions of people traveling on this bridge increased. The railway authorities will not close the bridge without making alternative arrangements.
The 12-ton railway bridge was commissioned in 1931. In 1962, along with railways, roads were also opened. Since the opening of the road, one side is closed and vehicles cross on the other side. The 90-year-old bridge is currently capable of carrying 10 tonnes. Bridge spans are outdated. The expert team of Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET), a consulting firm, brought out the picture of all parts of the bridge, including Spain, Pattan.
It found that 8 of the original 19 spans of the bridge were in very poor condition. They are much decayed. In such a situation, the bridge needs urgent renovation to continue traffic flow.
Boalkhali Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Mamun said that many people have posted on social media that Kalurghat Bridge will be closed from today (Thursday). The information is not correct. Railway authorities confirmed the matter. Everyone must be informed before the closure of Kalurghat Bridge.
