A project of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to construct 36 footbridges in the capital has stalled for various reasons with only three completed in nearly four years.

The DNCC could not hand over site for 11 bridges to contractors while at least seven footbridges remained at the foundation and column stage on Pragati Sarani and Mohakhali Road for a year.

As a result, the intended beneficiaries -- pedestrians -- are suffering immensely instead of getting any benefit as half-done structures on footpaths are creating obstacles to their movement.

Project offices said the non-operation of contractors, unplanned development, complexities in removing utility lines and having big trees on selected spaces for footbridges are major obstacles to implementation of the project which is supposed to end in December.

On 27 October 2020, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the Tk319-crore 'Improvement of Traffic Infrastructure and Road Safety’ project of the DNCC.

Under the project, DNCC planned to construct 36 pedestrian bridges at Tk84.74 crore under six packages. At present, the DNCC has 47 footbridges over roads under its six zones.

Work orders for three packages were issued in April 2022, two others in January and one more in August of the same year with a target to complete the work within a year. But the contractors could not complete the work even in two years.

Visiting different sites, it was found that half-done structures of pedestrian bridges were lying on the footpath near the Rampura Bridge and Buddha Mandir in Badda, Shahjadpur, Coca-Cola Mor, BG Press at Mohakhali, Nabisco Mor and near DNCC Zone-3 office.

When asked, proprietor of SM Construction Hasibur Rahman Shaheen said the DNCC could not hand over land and shift lines of utility services on time and that is why they could not finish the work on four pedestrian bridges at Pragati Sarani.

He also said the city corporation could not hand over the sites of three bridges at Gulshan at all.

However, DNCC has cancelled its contract on negligence charge.

Shaheen said the DNCC has cancelled his contract illegally.

Admitting the failure to hand over work sites for three bridges in Gulshan-1 and Gulshan-2 areas, DNCC Executive Engineer Md Farhad, project director, said SM Construction was awarded the work for 13 footbridges under two packages but it could not complete work on any of the bridges.

The DNCC also cancelled work orders for four pedestrian bridges given to SM Rahman International as the contractor was blacklisted after cutting trees on the road median while carrying out development work.

According to the E-Government Procurement website, two re-tenders were invited for the construction of 11 pedestrian bridges.

According to Farhad, the DNCC could not hand over the work sites of 11 pedestrian bridges. No bridge could be constructed near Shooting Sport Club at Gulshan, Gulsahan-1 Bhola Mosque, Gulshan-2 Azad Mosque, Mohammadpur BRTC Bus stand and Mohammad Suchona Community Centre for having big tresses at the sites and due to elevated expressway, work sites at Banani area Navy headquarters and Army stadium could not hand over.

They also could not work at other work sites including Bangabandhu College at Mirpur for various reasons.

Farhad said three pedestrian bridges are completed and are being used by people at Rajlaxmi in Uttara, Bosila road and Shyamoli areas in the capital.

"The project is supposed to be finished in December but we will seek six more months from the government to complete the work," he said.

Farhad also said the DNCC was searching for new sites for 11 bridges and if it is not found, the fund would be returned to the government.

  Explaining the reason for not completing work at three pedestrian bridges on Mohakhali roads, he said, "DPDC wants to construct their office at our work sites near the BG Press and that's why they are not removing overhead cables which is necessary to advance with the development work. The electrical cable shifting is under process for the other two work sites."