Railway Authority stops construction of road, passenger shelter

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

The Pakshi Railway Authority has stopped the construction of HBB road and passenger shelter under the supervision of the Upazila Engineering Office on behalf of Ishwardi Upazila Parishad under the Hardinge Bridge, a spectacular heritage structure of the country in Pakshi of Padma River, KPI without following the rules.
On Thursday (June 15) morning, divisional railway officials along with railway security forces and railway police stopped the construction work and the entrance was also closed with rails.
It is known that the construction work was going on under the ghat development project of Pabna District Commissioner. Upazila Parishad was allocated Tk 27 lakh 28 thousand for development through LGED. In the upazila coordination committee meeting, a decision was taken to develop ‘Sanda Ranakhria Taria Mahal’ of Sara Union and ‘Bamangaon Boat Crossing Ghat’ of Pakshi Union on the banks of Padma River. On June 11, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Subir Kumar Das inaugurated the construction of 207 meters road from the river ghat under Hardinge Bridge. But the construction work was going on under Hardinge Bridge, a national KPI asset of the country, for the last four days without taking any permission from the railway authorities. The construction work was stopped on Thursday (June 15) under the leadership of Pakshi Railway Divisional Manager Shah Sufi Noor Mohammad. It can be seen from the ground that road construction work has started from Girder No. 1 to Girder No. 3 under the bridge at the rear end of Hardinge Bridge.
Pakshi Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shah Sufi Noor Mohammad said, Hardinge Bridge is a traditional national infrastructure of the country’s communication system. It is still operational due to close maintenance by the Railway Department. Construction of road under Hardinge Bridge involving KPI is a treasonous act. Attempts are being made to bring about state disaster by doing this purposefully to embarrass the government. For business purposes (especially sand transportation business) free movement of vehicles will be provided to the hazardous area. Cars will move if there is a road under the bridge. This will cause an earthquake and damage the bridge. DRM said that the upazila engineer is 100% responsible for the incident, now we are faced with the question of the existence of Hardinge Bridge.
Want to protect Hardinge Bridge. Pavement under the Hardinge Bridge was being built without concern for national security. If exemplary punishment is not taken against those who have committed this illegal act, it will be difficult to protect such an establishment. He said that a report will be filed at the police station.
Pakshi Divisional Engineer (DEN-2) Birbal Mondal said, We have demolished the road which was being constructed by using RCC columns and casting. The builders of Hardinge Bridge built guide banks about one and a half kilometers away to protect the bridge. Road construction will damage the pillars, guide banks and girders of the Hardinge Bridge. He said that the Upazila Parishad has approved and tendered for the development of the ghat, including the Bamangaon boat crossing ghat. It does not mention under Hardinge Bridge. The ghat on which the road is being built is basically not a recognized ghat. Bamangaon Mauza of Pakshir Union has disappeared into the river a long time ago, he said, where is the boat crossing point of Bamangaon?
Engineer Enamul Kabir said, road construction is nothing, a common thing. There is a ghat there. A passenger cantonment and road works at the ghat. People cannot walk because of the mud. For the time being: closed due to non-operation of railways. However, documents are being checked at the AC Land Office. I heard that the place is not the railway, but the land of the river.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Subir Kumar Dash said, I am new. It was inaugurated last Sunday when the engineering department said to start the construction of the road there. Work stopped due to railway blockage. The Aceland office has been asked to properly verify who owns the place. Detailed steps will be taken after surveying by the surveyor. Until then the work will be stopped.