Tangail, Jan 13, (V7N) - The ongoing expansion of the Jamuna Bridge-Dhaka Highway, from Elenga to the Jamuna Bridge roundabout, into a four-lane road has faced significant delays and allegations of irregularities. The project, which includes the construction of a flyover, two underpasses, and a service lane, has yet to see any progress on these crucial components. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BASHAK) maintains that while there has been slow progress from the contractor, there are no irregularities in the quality of the work, with constant supervision in place.
 
Since the inauguration of the Jamuna Bridge on June 23, 1998, the Jamuna Bridge-Dhaka Highway has become a vital route for communication between 23 districts in the northern and southern parts of Bangladesh. Considering its importance, the government initiated a project to upgrade the highway to a four-lane road. Work on this upgrade has been completed between Kaliakair in Gazipur and Mirzapur to Elenga in Tangail. The highway sees daily traffic of 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles, a number that significantly increases during the Eid holidays. The expansion work from Elenga to the Jamuna Bridge, covering 13.5 kilometers, is still ongoing.
 
The delays in the road expansion caused significant travel hardships during the last Eid holidays, with drivers and passengers facing severe congestion. Local authorities arranged a one-lane alternative route through the Bhuyapur Link Road to manage the traffic flow.
 
The project is being carried out by Abdul Monem Limited under the SASEC Road Connectivity Project (Package-5) Phase-2. The 13.6-kilometer road expansion includes one flyover, eight bridges, ten culverts, two underpasses, and one service lane, with a budget of 601 crore BDT.
 
Local residents claim that Abdul Monem Limited has been unnecessarily slow, and much of the roadwork has been completed only on a small section, with 11.5 kilometers still under construction. The completion of critical elements, such as the flyover, bridges, underpasses, and service lane, remains pending. There is a growing concern about the efficiency of the contractor, with allegations of negligence.
 
Locals near Jokaichor, Sallaar, Hatiya, and Analiyabari, including Shafikul Islam, Mamun, Bashir, and Nurul Haque, report daily struggles due to heavy traffic on the highway. They stress the need for the roadwork to be completed before the upcoming Ramadan to alleviate public suffering. They are urging the authorities to maintain strict oversight of the project and expedite the work.
 
Several young locals, including Hasmat, Kader, Forman Ali, and Nazrul Islam, raised concerns about the quality of the red sand being used in construction. They likened the material to low-quality red clay and questioned the durability of the highway. They have called for the oversight body to be stricter about the materials used in construction.
 
Sharif from Dhalatenga, whose family resides near the highway, also expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work. He believes that if a foreign construction firm were responsible for the project, the quality and timeline would have been much better, easing the burden on both drivers and passengers.
 
Project Manager at Abdul Monem Limited, Md. Robiul Awal, stated that the work is progressing rapidly, with about 65% of the road expansion completed. He assured that there were no issues with the quality or durability of the work. He also addressed concerns about the sand quality, stating that all construction materials, including sand, are tested in their laboratory before use.
 
Pulok Das, the Consultant Engineer at BASHAK, confirmed that the sand used in the project is regularly monitored for compliance with required standards. If the sand does not meet the specifications, it will not be used. He also mentioned that the sand being used near the 5th bridge at Dhalatenga had been paused for further testing after locals raised concerns. If the sand passes laboratory tests, it will be used; otherwise, it will be discarded.
 
Ahsanul Kabir Pavel, the Executive Engineer at BASHAK's Jamuna Bridge site office, emphasized that the entire project is under continuous supervision. Abdul Monem Limited is a well-known and reputable construction firm in Bangladesh, and there is no reason to doubt the quality of their work, though he acknowledged that the project has been progressing slowly.
 
 
END/BKC/SMA?