Despite the passage of official deadlines, construction of four key bridges on the Kalihati-Borachona and Dhalapara roads in Tangail remains incomplete, leaving thousands of residents to suffer daily.

The unfinished infrastructures -- meant to improve road connectivity and ease local transportation woes -- have instead become symbols of neglect and mismanagement.

Locals, commuters, and transport workers are blaming both the contractors and the authorities for the delays, expressing frustration over what they see as a lack of accountability and poor quality control.

In the 2021–2022 fiscal year, four separate contracts were awarded to build bridges at a combined cost of nearly Tk 25 crore. The projects were located in Kalihati's Betdoba (Tk 8.6 crore), Haripur (Tk 9.24 crore), and Rajafair (Tk 2.68 crore), as well as Ghatail's Khakuriya (Tk 4.21 crore).

The most glaring delay is seen in the Khakuriya Bridge in Ghatail's Deopara area, which remains incomplete nearly three years after the initial deadline.

Local residents from over 40 villages have been forced to rely on a deteriorated diversion road, enduring daily hardship.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) awarded the contract to Dhaka-based SE Sadia & Samia (JV) in September 2021, with the project supposed to be completed by March 2022.

Locals allege the firm subcontracted the work to a local contractor, who only worked for a few months before abandoning the site.

"The contractor hasn't visited in months. People and vehicles are suffering as they struggle to use the damaged diversion road," said Liton Miah, a local resident.

Drivers of CNG auto-rickshaws, battery-run three-wheelers, and small trucks echoed similar frustrations.

Ghatail Upazila Engineer Fazlur Rahman admitted the delay was due to the contractor's negligence but said efforts are underway to resume and complete the project soon.

Photo: Star

Meanwhile, a concrete bridge over the Jhenai river in Kalihati's Betdoba area -- meant to replace a partially damaged bailey bridge -- also remains unfinished. The 90.06-metre-long PSC girder bridge was funded by the World Bank and the government with a Tk 8.06 crore budget. Construction was expected to be completed by February 2023.

"Thousands of people are suffering every day because of the delay," said Masud Rana of Betdoba.

He accused both the contractors and the authorities of ignoring their responsibilities.

Contractor Mohammad Shaheen said the main structure is done and only approach roads remain. "The rest will be completed within the next three months," he assured.

In Haripur and Rajafair, the situation is no different.

Kalihati Upazila Engineer Arif Hossain said design changes led to time extensions, but the main structures of the bridges are finished. "Remaining work is progressing quickly," he said.

Tangail LGED Executive Engineer Mohammad Kamruzzaman said, "We hope to make the bridges usable before the next monsoon. Quality is being maintained at every stage, and any issues are addressed immediately."