Suspension bridge in Rangamati submerged for 27 days, Govt deprived of revenue
Pinky Akhter, Rangamati
The icon suspension bridge of Rangamati tourism has been submerged under water for 27 days due to the rising water level of Kaptai Lake due to rainfall and upstream inflow.
In this situation, the authorities have banned the movement of tourists on the bridge for the safety of tourists. Due to this, tourists coming from different parts of the country are returning disappointed. The government is being deprived of 30-40 thousand Taka in daily revenue income due to the closure of the bridge.
However, the bridge authorities say that tourist movement will be opened only when the water recedes. Every year, visitors have demanded that the bridge be built higher to prevent the bridge from sinking.
The main attraction of tourists in Rangamati revolves around the 335-foot long suspension bridge. Built in 1985, this beautiful suspension bridge is visited by more than 5 lakh domestic and foreign tourists every year. The annual income from the entrance fee of 20 taka per person amounts to about 60 to 90 lakh taka.
But for several years, the suspension bridge has been submerged in the water of Kaptai Lake for 3 to 4 months during the monsoon season. But no permanent solution has been taken so far. The authorities banned travel on the bridge on July 30 as the water level of Kaptai Lake increased due to the rains and upstream inflows in the past few days. Due to this, travel on the bridge has been closed for the last 27 days. Due to this, tourists are returning disappointed.
Alok Bikash Chakma, manager of Rangamati Tourism Holiday Complex, said, "The bridge was submerged on July 30, so the bridge has been banned for the safety of tourists. In the meantime, a letter has been sent from the Ministry of Tourism to the Rangamati Hill Tracts Development Board to build a modern bridge at the same place. If this is done, this problem will no longer exist."
The water holding capacity of Kaptai Lake is 109 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). However, the bridge sinks only when it reaches 107 feet.
