Bridge to nowhere: 50,000 in Rangpur risk daily crossing as approach roads vanish

More than 50,000 residents of 10 villages in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur have been enduring years of hardship after floods washed away the approach roads to a bridge, forcing them to rely on a fragile bamboo footbridge for daily commuting.

The concrete bridge at Gopidanga Moulvibazar in Balapara union has remained largely unusable for vehicles after the Teesta River eroded its approach roads. The bridge has also developed a noticeable tilt, raising fears of a major accident.

According to locals, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built the bridge in 2014 at a cost of 37.24 lakh taka.

However, floodwaters from the Teesta River washed away the approach roads on both sides a few years later, rendering the bridge inaccessible to most vehicles.

With no repairs undertaken by the authorities, local residents built a temporary bamboo-and-wood platform to restore communication. Since then, thousands of commuters, including school and college students, along with battery-run auto-rickshaws, vans and horse carts, have been using the risky crossing every day.

Residents said minor accidents occur frequently on the makeshift crossing, while travelling at night has become particularly hazardous. They alleged that repeated appeals to local authorities and elected representatives for reconstruction of the bridge and its approach roads have brought little more than assurances.

Balapara Union Parishad member Hafizar Rahman said at least 50,000 people from 10 villages depend on the crossing.

Union Parishad Chairman Ansar Ali said several proposals had been submitted to the LGED seeking construction of a new bridge.

Kaunia Upazila LGED Engineer Md Manirul Islam said a proposal for a new bridge had already been approved and the feasibility study completed.

"The project is now at the design stage. We hope the tender will be approved soon, after which construction work will begin," he said.