Kamrangirchar iron bridge reopens

The Kamrangirchar iron bridge has reopened to the public after a 25-day renovation, with the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) restricting the 145-metre structure to pedestrians to improve safety and ease movement.

DSCC Administrator Mohammad Abdus Salam inaugurated the renovated bridge as chief guest on Friday, with Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman attending as special guest, according to a press release.

The 145-metre-long and 4.2-metre-wide bridge is expected to directly benefit around 50 lakh residents of Kamrangirchar.

Around 70,000 people use the bridge every day, making its rapid restoration particularly significant for residents who depend on it for daily movement.

The renovation was completed in just 25 days, following concerns over the dilapidated condition of the structure and the risks it posed to pedestrians.

The DSCC said the rapid overhaul was undertaken to reduce public suffering and ensure safer pedestrian movement.

Abdus Salam said the city corporation remained committed to ensuring smooth and safe movement for residents.

He said completing the renovation in record time using the corporation’s internal funds demonstrated its commitment to addressing public needs.

The DSCC administrator also said initiatives had been taken to revise the proposed eight-lane project to preserve the historic bridge in Kamrangirchar for future generations.

Under the revised approach, the bridge will remain exclusively for pedestrians.
The decision is expected to maintain the structure as a pedestrian crossing while protecting the historic bridge from further pressure and deterioration.

The reopening follows a rapid renovation programme aimed at restoring a key crossing used by tens of thousands of people each day.

With the bridge now reopened and designated solely for pedestrians, the DSCC has sought to prioritise public safety and uninterrupted movement in the densely populated Kamrangirchar area.