Over 65.50pc work of main structure of Padma Bridge completed

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DHAKA, August 30, 2018 (BSS)-Construction works of the mega Padma Bridge is progressing fast and the authorities have been able to complete over 65.50 percent works of the main bridge until July 2018.

“We’ve been able to complete over 65.50 percent work of 6.15-km long main bridge. The overall progress work of the project is over 57 percent. So far, Tk 16, 795.80 crore has been spent out of Tk 30, 193 crore project,” said project director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge M Shafiqul Islam.

Talking to BSS, he said the government allocated Tk 4,395.66 crore for the project in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of financial year 2018-19.

He said 100 percent construction works of approach road at Janjira and Mawa points along with service area has already been completed. River training is also progressing fast and over 42 percent work has been completed.

“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,” said Shafiqul Islam. The installation of the fifth span of the bridge in June, over 775 metres of the main bridge is now visible, he said,

The construction work of the country’s largest bridge began on December 12, 2015 and China Major Bridge Engineering Construction Company is the main contractor of the Bridge.

According to the project details, each span of the bridge is 150 metres long and a total of 41 spans will be installed on 42 pillars. The first span of the Padma Bridge was installed at the Janjira point of Shariatpur on October 7, 2017. This was followed by the installation of the second span on January 28. The third span was installed on March 11. The fourth and fifth spans of the bridge were installed on May 13 and June 29 respectively.

Yunus Hawlader, a resident of Shibchar under Madaripur district, told BSS that with the implementation of the Padma Bridge project, one major pledge of the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be fulfilled.

“It seems that the dream of millions of people, especially those in the southern region of the country, is becoming true,” said Hawlader.

It is expected that the Padma Bridge will not only ease communication between Dhaka and the southern part of the country but also change the economic landscape.