OUR CORRESPONDENT,
Rangamati
The construction of the Kutukchhari bridge on the Rangamati-Khagrachhari regional highway has remained incomplete for more than four years despite two deadline extensions, causing severe hardship for commuters on the route.
The road is the only direct link for residents of Kutukchhari, Ghilachhari and Naniarchar upazilas of Rangamati, as well as Mohalchhari and Sadar upazilas of Khagrachhari, to reach Rangamati district town.
With the bridge still unfinished, locals, including patients, students and farmers, are being forced to use a dilapidated, pothole-ridden bypass road and an old, vulnerable Bailey bridge, often risking safety and enduring longer travel times.
A recent visit to the site found that only a couple of pillars have been built, while some rods lay on the roadside. No other construction materials were visible and not a single worker was present.
Vehicles and pedestrians were seen taking turns to cross between the two ends using the bypass road and the old bridge.
According to Roads and Highways Department sources in Rangamati, after the Kutukchhari Bailey bridge collapsed in January 2021, a decision was taken to construct a new 81-metre-long bridge.
In July 2022, two firms -- Messrs Sardar Enterprises and Messrs Rangamati Traders -- jointly began the Tk 14.29 crore project. However, despite the original deadline ending in 2024, there was little progress.
The deadline was extended by one year to 2025, but with only about 45 percent of the work completed, it was extended again until March 2026.
“Transporting critical patients to hospitals or agricultural produce to markets has become extremely difficult due to the incomplete bridge,” said Babudhan Chakma, a local resident.
“If the bridge were built promptly, it would have benefitted us all,” said Jasim Uddin, a local CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver.
Representatives of the two firms could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
Sabuj Chakma, executive engineer of RHD in Rangamati, said a recommendation would be sent to higher authorities to cancel the contract if the work is not completed within the extended period.