United News of Bangladesh

Large parts of the approach road to the Second Teesta Bridge in Gangachara upazila in Rangpur have caved in following recent rainfall, creating deep craters and exposing thousands of commuters to serious risks. Locals said and they fear major accidents if urgent repairs are not undertaken before the monsoon intensifies. The damaged sections particularly near Mahipur on the northern side of the bridge have become increasingly hazardous following several days of continuous rainfall. Locals said soil beneath the road has been washed away, causing parts of the pavement to collapse and leaving deep holes along one of the region’s busiest transport corridors. The bridge and its connecting road serve as a crucial link between Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts and provide access to the Burimari land port, facilitating the movement of thousands of passengers and goods vehicles every day. Since the bridge opened traffic volume especially heavy vehicle has increased significantly on the route. During a recent visit to the area, at least eight points along the northern approach road were found affected by subsidence, with some sections developing deep cavities that pose risks to both vehicles and pedestrians. “This road is extremely important for people travelling between Rangpur and Lalmonirhat,” said local resident Nazrul Islam. “Large holes have appeared on the northern side of the bridge after several days of rain. If repairs are not carried out immediately, a serious accident could occur at any time.” Concerns Over Construction Quality Locals have also raised questions about the durability of the road and the quality of past repair works, pointing to repeated failures despite substantial public spending. Ruhul Islam, a resident of the area,  said river erosion becomes a recurring challenge during every monsoon while the road had already been in a fragile condition before the latest rainfall. “In several places, the asphalt surface has peeled away, creating large potholes,” he said. “If heavy rain continues for a few more days, a significant portion of the road may collapse.” He alleged that similar damage occurred several times in the past and was repaired hurriedly, but the recurring failures suggest deeper problems in the execution of the bridge project. Another local resident, Niaz Ahmed, said repeated repairs have failed to provide a lasting solution. “Public money is being spent repeatedly in the name of maintenance, yet the road continues to collapse,” he said. “When a bridge and connecting road built at a cost of Tk 153 crore repeatedly develop the same problems, questions naturally arise about the quality of the work.” Costly Repairs, Limited Results According to officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), around Tk 28 crore was spent in 2024 on the renovation and widening of an approximately 11-kilometre stretch of the Teesta Bridge approach road, from Burirhat in Rangpur to Sirajul Market in Gangachara. The project was jointly implemented by three contractors—M/S Khairul Kabir Rana, KKR Limited and Barendra Limited. During the same period, another road improvement project covering the Lalmonirhat section from Sirajul Market to Kakina was carried out by Shahadat Enterprise at a cost of Tk 3.53 crore. Despite these expenses, locals said the road has yet to achieve a durable condition, as recurring subsidence and potholes continue to disrupt traffic and endanger commuters. Threat to Regional Connectivity Abdullah Al Hadi, chairman of Laxmitari Union Parishad, described the route as one of the busiest roads connecting Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts. “The appearance of fresh erosion and subsidence near the bridge before the flood season is alarming,” he said. “If immediate repairs are not undertaken, there is a risk that larger sections of the road could collapse, disrupting communication across the region.” Gangachara Upazila Engineer Shah Md Obaidur Rahman said officials have already visited the site after receiving reports of the damage. “Necessary steps are being taken to repair the affected sections as quickly as possible,” he said. Longstanding Problems The Second Teesta Bridge, built over the Teesta River, was inaugurated on September 16, 2019, to strengthen connectivity between Gangachara and the upazilas of Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj and Aditmari in Lalmonirhat district, as well as the strategically important Burimari land port. However, since its inauguration, the bridge’s approach road has repeatedly suffered from subsidence, potholes and structural defects. On several occasions, authorities have had to restrict the movement of heavy vehicles due to safety concerns.