Shariatpur road expansion, bridge works remain incomplete after six years

The expansion of the Shariatpur–Naodoba road and construction of two bridges on the approach to the Padma Bridge Expressway remain incomplete even after six years, leaving thousands of commuters in misery. 
According to the locals, although the project period expired on 30 June, work under two of the three construction packages has stopped, with contractors no longer active at the sites. Around 9 kilometres of the 27-kilometre project remain untouched, they said. A recent visit to the area showed that the approach road to the newly built bridge over the River Kirtinasha in Kotapara of Shariatpur Sadar upazila has yet to be constructed, forcing vehicles to use the risky old bridge. In Jajira's Kazirhat area, construction of another bridge has been left incomplete, leaving traffic to pass over a narrow, ageing bridge.
Road construction has also stalled between Motisagar and Naodoba, where four culverts are currently under construction. As a result, commuters are forced to travel through narrow and pothole-ridden road sections, often causing long tailbacks.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges approved the Tk1,682 crore project in 2020 to upgrade the 27-kilometre road to four lanes. Construction began in 2021, but only 18 kilometres have been completed so far, while work on the remaining 9 kilometres has yet to begin.
The project includes acquiring 260 acres of land at an estimated cost of Tk1,218 crore. According to project details, the Shariatpur district administration has so far handed over 182 acres to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) after acquisition.
The road construction component, estimated at Tk464 crore, was divided into three packages: a 13.5-kilometre stretch from Shariatpur district town to Jajira upazila headquarters, a 12-kilometre section from Jajira T&T to Naodoba, and the construction of two bridges along with 1.5 kilometres of approach roads.
Locals said the road has become a key route to Dhaka after the opening of the Padma Bridge, with around 800 to 1,000 passenger buses, trucks and private vehicles using it daily.
Mustafa, a resident of Shariatpur Sadar upazila, said the road should be completed quickly to ease travel for people from Shariatpur, Madaripur, Barishal and Chandpur.
Sipon Mia, a resident of Jajira upazila, said the unfinished 9-kilometre stretch frequently causes accidents and traffic congestion, leaving passengers stranded for hours.
Bus driver Akhter, who operates on the Shariatpur-Dhaka route, said driving becomes difficult immediately after crossing the Padma Bridge due to the poor condition of the Shariatpur section, drawing frequent complaints from passengers. Shariatpur Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Sheikh Nabil Hossain said most of the project had been completed, but work could not proceed in some areas because land acquisition remained unfinished.
He said efforts are underway to resolve the land-related complications and complete the remaining work, adding that applications have already been submitted to extend the validity of all three project packages.