Tangail, July 20 (V7N) — A newly constructed bridge over the Louhjong River in Laujana village of Tangail Sadar Upazila remains largely unusable due to the absence of approach roads, leaving over one lakh people across 30 nearby villages facing daily travel difficulties.
 
Built in the 2023–24 fiscal year at a cost of around Tk 90 lakh, the bridge was completed under the supervision of the Sadar Upazila Parishad and executed by contractor firm Messrs Protyush Builders. However, due to lack of additional funds, the necessary connecting roads on either side of the bridge were not constructed, rendering it inaccessible to vehicles and pedestrians alike.
 
Local residents say the bridge, though long needed, has failed to serve its purpose. Abdur Rahim, a resident of the area, said the bridge has been completed for months, but without access roads, it cannot be used. “We cannot even walk across it safely. People are forced to take long detours,” he said.
 
The Tk 90 lakh bridge over the Louhajang River in Tangail Laujana village remains unusable due to the lack of connecting roads, causing daily suffering for residents of 30 nearby villages.
 
Abul Kashem, another local resident, explained he placed sacks of soil at the bridge slope to access a nearby mosque across the river. He said the bridge would be immensely helpful for those attending schools, markets, and other institutions on both sides of the river—if only the connecting roads existed.
 
Students from Dharerbari School, including Abul Hashem, Ansar Ali, Nazmul Islam and Lima Akter, said they are forced to walk nearly five kilometres to school, despite the bridge being close to their homes.
 
Contractor Prasenjit Dhar of Protyush Builders stated that the construction was completed as per project specifications, which did not include approach roads.
 
Tangail Sadar Upazila LGED Engineer Md Zakir Hossain confirmed that the bridge was built under the Upazila Parishad’s budget, but there was no allocation for the roads. A proposal has been submitted for funding.
 
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nahida Akter said she has been made aware of the issue and directed a site inspection. She assured that the access roads would be built within the first half of the current fiscal year to ensure the bridge becomes fully functional for public use.
 
END/BKC/SMA/