70% Work on Main Structure of Padma Bridge is Completed

The government allocated Tk4,395.66 crore for the project in the Annual Development Program (ADP) of financial year 2018-19. Construction work of the approach road at Janjira and Mawa points along with service area has already been completed

The much-awaited Padma Bridge is nearing completion as 70% construction work of the main structure of the 6.15-km long bridge has already been completed.

Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project Director M Shafiqul Islam confirmed the news over the phone on Saturday, reports BSS.

He said: “The overall progress of the work of the project is 60%. So far, Tk16,795.80 crore has been spent of the Tk30,193 crore project.”

“We have finished our preparation work on both sides of the Padma river, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to visit the Padma Bridge to inaugurate the railway link tomorrow (Sunday)”, Shafiqul further added.

The government allocated Tk4,395.66 crore for the project in the Annual Development Program (ADP) of financial year 2018-19. Construction work of the approach road at Janjira and Mawa points along with service area has already been completed.

The river training is also progressing fast and over 42% work has been completed, while river training for a 1300 metre area is also going fast, to protect the area from river erosion on the Mawa side.

The project director said: “Our target is to complete the construction of the Padma Bridge in time and we are working hard to ensure quality of the construction work.

“With the installation of the fifth span of the bridge in June, over 775 metres of the main bridge is now visible”

He said each span of the bridge is 150 metres long and a total of 41 spans will be installed on 42 pillars. “Six spans of the bridge have been installed so far,” he added.

The prime minister inaugurated the main bridge construction and river training work at Janjira in Shariatpur and Mawa in Munshiganj on December 12 in 2015.

Quader: GDP to increase by 2% due to Padma Bridge

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday also said that the GDP rate of the country will be increased by 1.5% to 2%, after completion of the Padma Bridge.

He was speaking to reporters while attending a public rally at Kathalbari Ghat in Shibchar Upazila in Madaripur.

Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, said the party rally was not organized as part of their election campaign. “This is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s area. This is one of her beloved places. We will win here in the polls.”

Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque, Awami League Organizing Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, MP, and local lawmaker Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury, were present among others at the time.