Rangpur, Aug. 24 -- A Tk 123.86 crore bridge built over the Teesta River to improve connectivity between Rangpur and Lalmonirhat, including the Burimari land port, is failing to deliver its intended benefits as heavy vehicles remain barred from using it.

Trucks carrying goods from Burimari are now taking a detour of nearly 50 kilometres through Lalmonirhat town before reaching Rangpur, adding to transport costs, fuel consumption and travel time, traders and transport operators .

The 850-metre-long bridge, known as the Second Teesta Bridge, connects Kakinia in Lalmonirhat's Kaliganj upazila with Mahipur in Rangpur's Gangachara.

Another Tk 28 crore was spent on an 11-kilometre regional highway linking Burirhat in Rangpur city with Siraju...