Gofran Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)

A long-awaited 30-meter-long girder bridge over the Gangamoti canal in Kuakata is nearing completion, promising to transform local tourism and provide a vital safety lifeline for over 1,500 coastal people  who have faced severe transportation hardships for four decades.

Constructed at a cost of BDT 31.56 million (Tk 3.15 crore) under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the main structure of the bridge is finished, with connecting road work currently underway. According to authorities, the bridge is expected to open to the public this coming December.

Once operational, the infrastructure will significantly enhance Kuakata's tourism appeal. Visitors will gain direct vehicular access to Gangamoti Beach via an alternative route near '33 Kani,' avoiding the current inconvenient journey. To cater to travelers, an aesthetically designed parking zone is being developed across a 55-meter area adjacent to the embankment on both sides of the bridge. Plans are also underway to upgrade a 1,200-meter road extending south toward the seaside.

Beyond boosting tourism, the bridge marks a dramatic improvement in safety and quality of life for around 400 local fishing families living outside the embankment. During the monsoon season, water levels in the Gangamoti canal rise between 5 and 8 feet, isolating the community and making daily commutes—especially for school children—hazardous or impossible.

More crucially, the bridge will serve as an essential evacuation route during natural disasters. Locals recall the devastating impact of Cyclone Sidr, when strong currents made crossing the canal lethal for those swimming toward the safety of the embankment. The new bridge ensures swift, safe access to storm shelters during cyclones and tidal surges.

Kalapara Upazila Engineer (LGED) Md. Moniruzzaman highlighted that the project was executed out of practical necessity to drive regional development. He noted that the bridge will seamlessly connect isolated communities to the protected embankment area while opening up new economic opportunities for Patuakhali's coastal belt.

Local residents have welcomed the project, anticipating an end to nearly 40 years of isolation, while calling for complementary measures—such as canal re-excavation and anti-encroachment efforts—to preserve the canal's natural flow and secure the bridge's long-term benefits.