SYLHET. Sept 03: Plying of all modes of vehicles through the Keane Bridge in Sylhet city has been kept suspended since the early hours of Sunday.
However, pedestrians will use as usual the bridge, which is the entry point of the city.
While visiting the construction site of the bridge on Sunday, City Mayor Ariful Haque Chwodhury said, "We have to keep vehicular movement suspended mainly for the repair work on the decades old bridge."
After completion of the work, on consultation with the Roads & Highways ((R&H) Department and others we would decide whether to stop vehicular movement through this permanently," he added.
The mayor had already discussed the possible suspension of plying of vehicles permanently with civic organisations, who had opted for keeping the bridge's original shape and design since it is considered as one of the icons of the north-eastern city of the country, said SCC Chief Enigneer Nur Azizur Rahman.
Even then there would be further discussion for opinion gathering from experts.
The bridge was built in 1936 after the name of Sir Michael Keane, the then governor general of Assam after his Sylhet visit.
Since then, it was the entry point of the main city.
The 1150-foot long and 18 foot wide bridge is made of iron and steel and looks like a bow. Construction of the bridge cost about Tk 5.6 million.
The bridge was partially damaged by the retreating Pak Army in 1971.
However, during the last three decades, four other bridges were built over the river Surma.
