Safety at stake on Kalurghat Bridge

A serious accident is just a matter of time on the run-down Kalurghat Bridge in Chittagong, constructed in British era -- thanks to the indifference of the authorities concerned.

Hundreds of vehicles, plying the bridge, are facing difficulties every day, as the deck and iron fencing on both sides of the bridge have become worn-out and numerous potholes developed on it, giving way to mishaps.

As a result, long tailbacks on both sides of the bridge -- which linked the port city with south Chittagong -- have become a common scenario.

The bridge, constructed in 1931 over the Karnaphuli river was initially designated as a railway bridge. Later, in the 60s, it was modified and turned into a rail-cum-road bridge.

Apart from other vehicles, a pair of passenger trains of Chittagong-Dohazari route plies the bridge daily while another pair of oil-wagon trains uses it to go to Dohazari Peaking Power Plant on every alternative day, railway sources said.

Ayub Ali, owner of AN Enterprise, a firm which collects tolls on the bridge since June last year; said they did not notice any repair work of the bridge in last one year.

“At times we fill-up the potholes developed on the bridge at our own cost though it is the responsibility of the railway authorities,” he said, adding, “We have informed the railway authorities about the sorry state of the bridge.”

Seeking anonymity an engineer of the railway's East zone said the allegation regarding the lack of maintenance of the bridge is true.

Syed Habibur Rahman, general secretary of Chattagram Auto-rickshaw Auto-tempo Sramik Union of Chittagong South District unit, said, “Due to the run-down condition of the bridge, it now takes 10 to 15 minutes for a vehicle to cross it, whereas, it used to require only two to three minutes before.”

Sometimes vehicles get stuck in the potholes and get damaged, resulting in tailbacks for a long time on the one-way bridge. This causes untold sufferings to commuters, he said.

Residents of Boalkhali and Patiya upazila of the district use the bridge to and from the city every day so it is necessary to repair the bridge soon, said Rahman, also a resident of Boalkhali.

However, Mohammad Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Sramik Karmachari Union, claimed that the potholes do not create any problem for the trains as the rail track on the bridge is "alright".

“We have inspected the bridge few days back,” said Sheikh Naimul Huq, an engineer of the bridge section of Railway's East zone, adding, “It is necessary to repair the bridge.”

Claiming that routine maintenance work of the bridge is done every year, Additional Chief Engineer (bridge) of Railway's East Zone Abdul Jalil said they will repair the bridge as soon as possible.