The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The construction of the third bridge across the river Karnaphuli in Chittagong will be completed by next July if the current pace of work is maintained. According to the Karnaphuli Bridge Project sources, over 57 percent of the work has been completed since it was restarted on July 19, 2006. The project was originally initiated in 2002-03. When the bridge will be opened to traffic, the road communication between southern Chittagong and the port city of Chittagong would be easier and it will also help establish a better road link with Myanmar through Cox's Bazar. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed visited the project site in last August.

The bridge is designed to be 950 metre long and 24.40-metre wide, while the length of link roads two kilometres, including culverts.

The length of completed part of the bridge is 152 meters or 30 segments. The foundation work of the bridge has been completed, said the sources.

The estimated cost of the Karnapuhli Bridge Project is Taka 590 crore of which the Kuwait government is providing Taka 372 crore and the Bangladesh government Taka 218 crore. The total estimated cost of rehabilitation of affected people is Taka 11.50 crore, the source said adding that the Communications Ministry has so far distributed Taka 1.60 crore among them.

A non-government organisation, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh, has been engaged in taking care of the affected people, the sources said.