MYMENSINGH Aug 24, 2021 (BSS) - The people of Mymensingh are so much delighted to hear the news of the approval of the much-awaited Kewatkhali Bridge over the River Brahmaputra.

The government today approved a project to construct an eye-catching Taka 3,263.63 crore first steel arch bridge of the country over the river Brahmaputra in Mymensingh to establish an improved road connectivity among the northern districts of greater Mymensingh and with the capital.

The approval came from a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The Kewatkhali Bridge project will be implemented by the Roads and Highways Department under the Road Transport and Highways Division.

The project aims to reduce congestion and improve mobility and connectivity by addressing the cross-river bottleneck between Mymensingh and Shambhuganj on the Dhaka-Mymensingh-India corridor.
 
The project will also ease traffic congestion in the Mymensingh city by diverting traffic away from the city’s central area via the construction of the Kewatkhali Bridge over the Brahmaputra River at Mymensingh with the overpasses and approach road.

Hearing the news of approval, people from all walks of life expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her initiative to fulfill a long-awaited demand.

The bridge will establish well road connectivity with the eastern portion of Mymensingh, Netrakona, and Sherpur districts which will open a new door of expansion of business and also create a good atmosphere of industrialization in the areas, they said.

Uttering gratefulness to the Prime Minister, Secretary of the district AL Advocate Muazzem Hossein said, “Connectivity will be heightened in Mymensingh region after the completion of the bridge.”

Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway, Mymensingh, Waheduzzaman said, “Kewatkhali Bridge will progress connectivity with Sherpur, Netrakona along with border areas and also with the eastern portion of Mymensingh district.

He also conveyed thankfulness to the Prime Minister for her unique decision of building the bridge.  

Vice President of District Chamber and Commerce Shankar Kumar Shaha said,” We are very much pleased, and thrilled hearing the news that ECNEC today sanctioned the construction of Kewatkhali Bridge.”

Moqbul Hossen, a bus driver, said “It is good news for us as we have been facing very many difficulties while passing over Shambuganj Bridge due to serious congestion.”