Quader hopes Padma Bridge will open to vehicles and trains on the same day

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader believes the Padma Bridge will open to vehicles and trains on the same day.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 7 Jan 2016, 12:22 PM
Updated : 7 Jan 2016, 06:46 PM

Speaking to journalists after a board meeting of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority on Thursday, he said the Padma Bridge will be inaugurated in 2018. 
 
“Works on the rail bridge will begin at the Mawa part. Both the Padma Bridge and the rail bridge will be opened on the same day."
 
Railway Minister Md Mazibul Hoque was also present at the board meeting and media briefing.
 
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal expressed similar hopes on Tuesday, after a meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
 
He told journalists the bridge would be inaugurated by December 2018.
 
In the ECNEC meeting, an additional Tk 80 billion was approved for the Padma Bridge construction. 
 
With this amount, the total construction cost of the 6.1-km bridge has gone up to Tk 287.93 billion.  
 
Explaining the reasons for the increased cost, the minister for roads and bridges said, "There is nothing to worry about. The total cost of construction will be Tk 287 billion, and the return in the first year alone will be Tk 34 billion." He added that the return will increase over the years.

ECNEC first approved the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project in 2007 for a cost of Tk 101.6 billion. The cost went up later when the plan was altered and the length of the bridge had to be increased. A modified plan to the tune of Tk 205 billion was approved by the council in 2011.

Once completed, the 6.15 km long bridge will establish direct road communication between Dhaka and 19 southern districts of the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the main part of the construction on Dec 12 last year.

China's Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd and Sinohydro Corporation Ltd were given the contracts for the construction of the main part of the bridge and for river training.

Six reasons for cost hike

Minister Obaidul Quader has pointed out that the value of the Dollar against the Taka has increased from 69 to 78 since the project was approved.

The detailed design of the bridge had not been completed when the Development Project Proposal (DPP) was submitted in 2010. It then took another four years to award the contracts again and to acquire 500 acres of land.

A further 1.3-km stretch on the Mawa side of the river had to be added for river training. Then the shifting of ferry-piers on both sides of the river, and the construction and expansion of roads also had to be included in the plans.

"All costs were approximated during the DPP stage, but these had to be re-evaluated after the detailed design was confirmed. That is why there has been a cost hike," said the Roads and Bridges minister.

Land for Jamuna Rail Bridge, Army for Jamuna Resort

Roads and Bridges Minister Obaidul Qader says that four decisions have been made at a board meeting at the ministry.

First, the army will take over security at the Jamuna Resort.

Second, the Bangladesh government and the railway department have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding over land requirements for the Jamuna railway bridge.

Third, 12.43 acres of land will be allotted to the Northwest Power Generation Company for 30 years to implement a 500 megawatt solar power development plan.

Fourth, the stipend given to the children of employees of the Bridge authority will be increased from Tk 500 to Tk 2,000.