Construction of new bridge on Sreemoti River to begin soon

Raiganj: The North Dinajpur district administration has announced the construction of a new bridge on the Sreemoti River at Dhankoil in Kaliyaganj — a long-standing demand of the residents.

The bridge, on the Kaliyaganj-Balurghat State Highway, will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore, sanctioned by the state government.

Officials of the district administration, led by District Magistrate Surendra Kumar Meena and accompanied by Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) Jayanta Kumar Chakraborty, visited the construction site on Tuesday afternoon to finalise plans.

The condition of the existing concrete bridge on the river, which connects the North and South Dinajpur districts, has deteriorated and the construction of the new bridge has been a pressing demand of residents who rely on this vital link for daily commutes and transport.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee approved the project during an administrative meeting at Jhargram Stadium on August 9, 2024, where she laid the foundation stone. Following this, administrative officials expedited the planning process and the project is now set to begin.

DM Meena stated: “The existing bridge on the Sreemoti River is very old and unsafe for regular use.

The new bridge will provide significant benefits to the residents of both North and South Dinajpur districts. With the Chief Minister’s approval, we are ready to commence the construction work.”

PWD Executive Engineer Chakraborty said: “The tender process for the new bridge has been completed and construction work will begin shortly. This project will ensure better connectivity and safety for the people.”