Padma Bridge runs eight months behind extended schedule: Govt report

The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division or IMED has expressed doubts over finishing the construction work of Padma Bridge within the extended deadline of November 2018.

In a recent report, the division has said it 'seems' the project will finish eight months behind the even after the extension of the deadline.

The main construction of the bridge started in November 2014 following many complexities relating to funding and site selections. The river training and construction of link roads had begun earlier.

In the first revision, the project was extended up to the end of 2015, and in the second revision, the target to finish the work was set at November 2018 with a total estimated cost of around Tk 288 billion.

The first span between two piers of the bridge was installed on Sept 30. Road Transport and Bridges Minister said at the time, saying the 'dream bridge' finally became visible.

Later, IMED visited the project site and finalised a report on its progress on Nov 20.

The Division's Deputy Director Joynal Molla later sent the report to the Bridges Division, Planning Commission, and Bangladesh Bridge Authority.

According to the report, 48 percent work to set up the 6.15-kilometre long two-storey bridge for vehicles and trains has ended with around Tk 144 billion.

"Considering the progress of the work, it seems the project is eight months behind schedule," it says.

Bangladesh is building the bridge with its own fund through the contractor, China's Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd, after leaving the World Bank out of the project following complexities over corruption allegation.

To back its claim in the report, the IMED says two out of 42 piers of the bridge have been installed so far and the piling work to set up six more piers completed.

The piling work to construct four other piers has partially been finished, according to the report.

It also says revision in the design of 14 other piers is under way but it is not yet clear when the revised designs will be available and what the project authorities are doing to get those.

According to the IMED report, it is 'uncertain' when the second span will be installed. The bridge needs 41 spans.

Moreover, there are four hammers for piling work in the project site but only two of them are in operation now, the report says.

The Division has made some recommendations in the report. These include:

>> Emphasising making a time-based work plan to finish piling of all the piers, and to set up pile cap, pier shaft and pier cap.

>> Bringing pace of work to install span between the piers already completed.

>> Completing the work to finalise designs of the 14 piers fast.

>> Make a successive plan with separate timeframes to install the spans.

>> Giving top priority to maintaining quality at every stage of constructing the bridge with sustainability along with finishing the work within the stipulated time.

The IMED report also states that steel trusses necessary to make 11 spans have reached the project site and three of those were already assembled.

The work to make 15 other spans is under way in China. The 15 other spans would be brought to Bangladesh in phases.

The approach roads on the Zajira and Mawa ends were already set up.

Another Chinese firm, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, was tasked with river training work for the bridge at over Tk 87 billion.

The company has achieved 34 percent progress in its work.