Construction of the Second Teesta Bridge in the district is yet to be completed even though the second deadline for its completion expired in December 2016.

The first deadline for completion of the 850-metre-long bridge at Mahipur ghat of Kaliganj upazila was June and the second deadline was December 2016, while the third deadline has been fixed as April this year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone on October 19 in 2011.

Officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the construction firm said the first deadline was missed as the firm could not bring machines and materials to the project site on time due to the countrywide strikes and blockades in early 2015. The second deadline was missed as two girders fell from the gantry crane while they were being placed on the pillars of the bridge on November 15 and December 17, 2016.

Locals alleged that the girders collapsed as low quality materials were used for their construction.

Refuting the allegation, Lalmonirhat Executive Engineer of LGED Al-Amin Khan and project manager of the construction firm Sadhon Kumar Saha said it was just an accident.

“Construction of the second Teesta Bridge will be completed by the first week of April, and it will be opened for public by the second week,” AL-Amin said. “Only four of 17 deck slabs are yet to be made, otherwise all the work has already been completed,” he said, adding that the construction firm says the remaining slabs will be completed by March this year.

“Several lakh people of Aditmari, Kaliganj, Hatibandha and Patgram upazilas go to Rangpur city and other parts of the country by crossing the Teesta on boats,” said Mobarak Hossain, 52, a trader at Kakina Bazar in Kaliganj.

“Construction of a bridge on Mahipur-Gangachhara route over the Teesta river was our longstanding demand. Finally our dream is going to be fulfilled,” said Mansur Ali, 55, of Mahipur village.

Navana Group-WMCG jointly got the work order for the construction of the bridge, which has 85 girders and 17 slabs and cost Tk 121.65 crore.