Dhaka, Jun 16 (bdnews24.com) – The government will prefer constructing the Padma bridge with the fund pledged by the World Bank, though talks are underway for alternative sources of funding, Communication Minister Obaidul Quader has said.
The minister told this to reporters on Saturday while visiting the rehabilitation project site for those affected due to acquisition of land for the proposed construction of the bridge at Kumarbhog in Munshiganj district.
Quader said that the construction of the Padma multipurpose bridge, the largest infrastructure project in Bangladesh, would start in eight months.
He said the government wanted to start construction of main structure of the bridge with the World Bank funding, if it agreed. "Otherwise, the government will go for alternatives."
"The government has no hostility with the World Bank," Quader said and added that the government was giving priority to constructing the bridge with the funds pledged by the World Bank and other donors.
"The World Bank is an apex global organisation. If we've problems with it (WB), it will have impacts on other sides as well," he added.
The global lender suspended its pledged $1.2-billion fund for the $2.9-billion project to build the first Padma bridge in October last year alleging corruption. The funds pledged by the other donors also remain suspended.
After the suspension of the WB funds, the Malaysian government expressed its interest in the construction of the bridge. The government in April signed a landmark agreement with Malaysia in this regard. It recently submitted an investment proposal for infrastructure-related projects in Bangladesh.
Quader said on Saturday also said that if the alternate proposals did not look bright, the government would start the bridge construction work with its own resources.
He said the government wanted to start constructing the main structure of the bridge in February next year.
"Ninety percent of the construction at four rehabilitation sites has already been completed. Work on the construction yard is also nearing completion," he added.
Earlier in the day, the minister visited accident-prone spots on Dhaka-Mawa Highway and took part in an awareness campaign against road accidents.
Sukumar Ranjan Ghosh, MP, Tarana Halim, MP, eminent journalists and columnists A B M Musa and Syed Abdul Maksud, Safe Road Movement Chairman Ilias Kanchan and actress Rokeya Prachi were present on the occasion.
The minister exchanged views with the local people on abiding by traffic rules to prevent road accidents.
He also saw activities of BRTA mobile courts at the second Buriganga bridge, first and second Dhaleshwari bridges, Nimtali, Louhajang and Srinagar.
The Communication Minister said that all unnecessary speed-breakers would be removed from the highway in phases. Ramp-strips would be set up in place of 10 speed-breakers in the first phase, he added.
He said the Dhaka-Mawa Highway would be upgraded to a four-lane road.
Talking to journalists, Ilias Kanchan called upon all to work for generating awareness against road accidents.
The minister was accompanied by BRTA Chairman Aiyubur Rahman Khan, Roads and Highways Chief Engineer Aminur Rahman Lashkar and Padma bridge Project Director Engineer Shafikul Islam, among others.
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