Fund shortage has been hampering reconstruction work of an important bridge at Khalshi on Gobindaganj-Dinajpur highway.

A concrete slab of the bridge collapsed during the 1998 flood. A bailey bridge was set up temporarily to restore road communica-

tions. Since then vehicles are plying at risk over the bridge which is now unable to carry load of heavy traffic.

Gaibandha roads and highways department undertook a plan to construct a 40.355-metre long RCC bridge in 2001-02 fiscal. Estimated cost of the project was one crore 42 lakh 43 thousand and 676 taka. But its work order is yet to be issued from the authorities concerned. This is because of fund shortage.

A project to construct a by-pass road beside the main bridge was

also undertaken at a cost of Tk 18 lakh. But the contractor concerned compelled to stop work sometime after an initial work for want of adequate fund.

The bridge is vital to connect with Dinajpur-Gobindaganj-Dhaka highway.

Abdul Mottaleb Akanda, local member of parliament (MP), Gaibandha-4 urged the government to reconstruct the bridge at the earliest to mitigate sufferings of people.