The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has been implementing a huge number of infrastructure development projects spending Taka 12,266 crore in the last 10 years largely improving communication networks in Rangpur zone.
RHD sources said the socio-economic condition of the common people has significantly upgraded following implementation of 41 development projects so far.
“Construction of 1,448.40 km roads, 62 bridges (4,581.53 km) and 171 culverts (974.69 km) spending Taka 3,018 crore was completed in 10 RHD divisions under Rangpur zone during the same period,” said Rangpur zonal Additional Chief Engineer Fakir Abdur Rob.
Construction, improvement, strengthening, expansion, renovation and repairing of many other regional roads and highways, bridges and culverts are nearing completion in the RHD divisions comprising of 10 districts.
Besides, expansion of 139.23 km (Chandaikona to Rangpur) part of the
Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur national highway in Rangpur zone to four-lane at
Taka 8,701 crore is progressing with the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) project assistance.
In addition, reconstruction of 19 bridges on different roads in Rangpur
RHD zone at a cost of Taka 546.98 crore is advancing fast under the Western Bangladesh Bridge Improvement project. “The road communication sector has witnessed a revolutionary progress following implementation of massive infrastructural uplifts making movements of people, vehicles and transportation of goods easier in Rangpur zone,” Engineer Rob added.
Executive engineer for Rangpur RHD division Engineer Sajedur Rahman said
construction, improvement, expansion and renovation of roads, bridges and culverts spending about Taka 325 crore were completed in the division.
“Similar infrastructure development work is now progressing fast at a cost
of another Taka 764 crore in different areas in Rangpur RHD division,” Rahman said adding that most of the works are expected to complete by June next.
The major constructed bridges include 303.32-metre Dr Wazed Miah Bridge, 750-metre Teesta Road Bridge, 253-metre Barodaho Bridge, 93.64-metre
Swarnomoti Bridge, 126-metre Jamuneswari Bridge and 93.02-metre Langolerhat Bridge.
The major constructed roads and district highways include 16.24-km 4-lane
roads in Rangpur city, 8.20-km part of Rangpur-Sahebganj-Mahiganj-Pirgachha highway and 11.70-km part of the Taxerhat-Kishoreganj highway in Rangpur RHD division.
The ongoing expansion work on the 45.30-km Sadullapur-Pirganj-Nababganj
district highway with 14 culverts (49-metre) at a cost of Taka 98.50 crore is
expected to complete by June next.
“Construction, renovation, improvement, surfacing and other work on roads
and culverts at a cost of Taka 44.78 crore are also progressing well in
different areas in Rangpur RHD division,” Engineer Rahman added.
Construction of Rangpur-Sahebganj-Mahiganj-Pirgachha highway, Gangachara-
Laldighee-Taraganj-Kishoreganj highway, Gangachara-Pirerhat-Monthonahat-
Garagram-Kishoreganj highway, Madhupur-Shyampur-highway and Sahebganj-
Haragachh highway at Taka 78.75 crore will begin soon.
“The Development Project Profile of the 53.30-kilometre Bamondanga
(Gaibandha)-Balua-Milanpur- Chharan-Aftabganj (Dinajpur) district highway in
Rangpur RHD division at Taka 542 crore is waiting for approval,” Engineer
Rahman added.
Similarly, development work on many other roads and culverts is
progressing fast in Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Bogura,
Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Kurigram RHD divisions of Rangpur
zone. Rangpur Divisional Deputy Director (Local Government) Zakir Hossain
said massive uplift projects implemented by RHD have made road communication
easier improving socioeconomic conditions of the common people in last 10
years in the northern region.
