People of eight Upazilas under three northern districts are looking forward to the completion of a road being built through Chalan Beel, a large wetland, in the Rajshahi Division.
Officials said a large part of 34-km road in Sirajganj and Natore districts has already been constructed.
The road will remain submerged during the rains but emerge from the water in late autumn and remain usable until the next monsoon.
Inhabitants of the remote areas adjacent to the wetland in Pabna, Sirajganj and Natore districts walk or travel on bullock carts during the dry seasons and on boats during the rainy season.
Local people think the ‘submerged road’ will open up a new era in communication for the inhabitants of the eight Upazilas – Faridpur and Bhangura of Pabna, Gurudaspur and Singra of Natore, and Tarash, Ullahpara, Raiganj and Shahjadpur of Sirajganj.
Local Government and Engineering Department said half of the 14-km Sirajganj part of the road has already been built.
Sirajganj LGED Executive Engineer Golam Mostafa said 5.5 km of the road and two bridges between Ullahpara and Faridpur, and a part of another 8.5-km road and a bridge between Tarash and Gurudaspur are ready.
He told bdnews24.com that tenders were invited in the 2012-13 financial year for the construction of culverts, approach roads and a 75-metre bridge.
He expects the project, being implemented by four contractors at a cost of Tk 160 million, will be completed by June next year.
The engineer said tenders were also invited in the 2011-12 financial year for the construction of the road’s 5.5-kilometre part and two bridges at a cost of Tk 233.7 million.
He said the opening of a 5.5-km section in July this year had to be postponed, as the construction of a bridge remained incomplete.
Mostafa said the road will be opened after the rainy season.
Inhabitants of the area said it would reduce their suffering in travelling and transporting goods.
“It (the road) is like a dream to us,” said Moinuddin Ahmed, 65, from Tarash.
Kundail Government Primary School teacher Jahangir Hossain said travel in the area was very difficult and time-consuming during dry seasons.
A new era will begin in the area once the road is inaugurated, he said.
Source: Bd news24
