Twelve Bailey bridges on Aricha-Daulatpur-Nagarpur-Tangail Regional Highway have been causing suffering to the travellers during the last 15 years as the structures break down frequently.

Locals told this correspondent that the 60-kilometre highway would ensure smooth movement of passengers and goods and reduce pressure of vehicles if the structures are replaced by concrete bridges. 

Of the regional highway, Aricha to Daulatpur area is under Manikganj Road Division while Nagarpur-Tangail area is under Tangail Road Division.

Of the 12 Bailey bridges, eight are in seven kilometres of Nagarpur upazila, two in six kilometres of Tangail municipal area and two in six kilometres of Daulatpur and Ghior upazilas of Manikganj.

Farmer Atoar Ali of Chashabhadra village in Nagarpur, said the two bridges in his village often break down and become unfit for vehicular movement.

Movement of all types of vehicles was stopped from April 6 to April 13 due to lack of repair work of a damaged bridge at Tengripara village, he added.

Mintu Mia of the same village said two vehicles cannot cross each other over the bridges. As a result, vehicles get stuck on both sides of the bridges for a long time and create traffic congestion, he added.

Pickup van driver Abdul Haq of Tengripara village said many vehicles of the northern districts use the Aricha-Daulatpur-Nagarpur-Tangail Regional Highway instead of the Tangail-Dhaka Highway. The Bailey bridges cannot take this load, he added.

Shakil Khan said the bridges get damaged due to the movement of stone-laden trucks from Burimari in Lalmonirhat.

Manikganj Road Division Executive Engineer Mahibul Haque said Bailey bridges are usually set up in an emergency and it is not a permanent arrangement.

Tangail Road Division Executive Engineer KM Noor-e-Alam said the government has already taken an initiative to build concrete bridges on the highway. The construction work will begin soon, he added.