A Correspondent, Lalmonirhat
Thousands of commuters cross the age-old Teesta Bridge everyday risking lives as the leaseholder turns it vulnerable to collapse any time by illegally allowing heavy vehicles for ‘extra money’. Known as the doorway to Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, it was constructed as a 2100-foot railway bridge over Teesta River in Lalmonirhat Sadar in 1901.
But after placement of wooden sleepers in 1978, light vehicles started crossing the bridge following an agreement between Bangladesh Railway and the Roads and Highways Department.
Later in sheer violation of the agreement, heavy vehicles including ten-wheeled lorries also started crossing the bridge, eventually shortening its lifespan.
Usual time of the bridge, which was hundred years from construction, expired seven years ago.
Now people of the two districts travel through the age-old bridge amid risk of accident as movement of heavy vehicles caused damage to the wooden sleepers, turning it unfit for movement of vehicles.
Leaseholder of the bridge allegedly ‘gain extra’ profit for allowing heavy vehicles to ply the bridge.
The leaseholder gets Tk 25 as toll money against per vehicle that is loaded up to eight tonnes but he allegedly receives Tk 500 to 600 as toll money against each vehicle loaded over ten tonnes or ten-wheeled vehicles.
Violation of the restriction on heavily loade..d vehicles is done especially at night in collusion with some policemen and a section of railway staff who get a share of the illegally earned money at Teesta bridge, sources said.
The Lalmonirhat railway divisional engineer, Masudur Rahaman told The Daily Star, “As the bridge leaseholder allows heavily loaded or ten-wheeled vehicles for additional toll money, wooden sleepers on the bridge got damaged before the expiry time. The employees recruited by the leaseholder arrange the illegal dealing mainly at night.”
“Pressure on the Teesta railway cum road bridge will be reduced after completion of the under construction road bridge to the east of the railway bridge. Construction of the road bridge over Teesta river is scheduled to end in September this year,” he said.
Abdul Hakim, leaseholder of the bridge, however, denied the allegation of taking additional toll money for allowing heavily loaded vehicles to cross the bridge, violating restriction.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
