PM opens Modhumoti bridge

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first-ever six-lane Modhumoti Bridge, being regarded as ‘new economic corridor’, in Narail today (October 10).

She inaugurated the bridge through a videoconferencing from her office.

Through the inauguration of the Modhumoti Bridge today, another dream after Padma bridge came true for the people of the southwestern region.

The 690-metre-long Modhumoti Bridge, which is locally called Kalna Bridge, is built on River Modhumoti at a cost of Tk 960 crore with the funding of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

It connects Narail, Gopalganj, Khulna, Magura, Satkhira, Chuadanga, Jashore, and Jhenaidah districts.

Once opened, the people of the southwestern region will enjoy faster road communication as the bridge will reduce over 100km distance from Kalnaghat to capital Dhaka, according to project officials.

People of at least 10 southwestern districts will be able to travel to different areas in less time. It will also reduce travel time from the country’s largest land port Benapole and Jashore to Dhaka, as the distance will only be 130km.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of Modhumoti Bridge on 24 January, 2015, in between Kashiani upazila under Gopalganj district and Lohagara upazila under Narail district.

The people of the region now use the Dhaka-Jashore-Benapole Highway via the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry ghat meaning they travel 100km more to reach Dhaka from Jashore. 

According to project officials, the bridge will be a part of Asian Highway which will connect the capital with the country’s south-western zone including the country’s biggest Benapole Land Port.

The 27.1-metre wide bridge would have six lanes including four high-speed lanes and two service lanes with a 4.30-kilometre approach road.

Md Shahidul Islam Milon, the ex-president of Jashore Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the bridge will boost the economy of the region and ease road communication massively.

The economic activities of Benapole Land Port, Mongla Sea Port and Noapara River Port will increase manifold, he said, adding that the residents of the region can come back to their homes after finishing their jobs in Dhaka within a day.

Some commuters said their longstanding sufferings via Kalna Ferry Ghat would come to an end through the opening of the bridge.