Millions of people in the country have been eagerly waiting for June 30, 2022, the much-expected date to open the dream Padma Multi-Purpose Bridge for traffic.
According to economists, the government is optimistic that Padma Bridge will boost GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 1.5-2 per cent.
“We're working hard to open the bridge for traffic within the stipulated date,” Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project Director Shafiqul Islam told BSS on Saturday.
Shafiqul Islam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dream of the Padma bridge is being implemented with the country’s own fund.
The bridge will change the economic landscape of southwestern Bangladesh contributing to communication, trade, industry, tourism and many other sectors in various ways when it will be fully open for the movement of vehicles.
Along with Bangladeshis, Chinese, American, British, Indian and Japanese nationals are working round the clock on the project.
The official said, “It seems that the dream of millions of people, especially those in the southern region of the country, has become true".
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has challenged the World Bank and other lending agencies that the government will show zero tolerance to corruption in the construction of the Mega Bridge,” the official also added.
According to Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) officials, some 22 metres wide concrete deck slab (2.5 metres hard shoulder on both sides) with a 4-lane road on the upper deck, while a single-track dual gauge rail will be installed on the lower deck. The deck height is 13.6 metres.
The bridge is being built with 760mm diameter Gas Transmission Line, 150mm diameter Fibre optical & Telephone Duct, High voltage Electric Line, platform in the river over the pile foundation at two kilometres downstream of the main bridge.
The construction of the main bridge is being carried out by China Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC), a Chinese contractor Company, and the river management is being done by Sino Hydro Corporation of China, BBA officials said.
Although the construction work began on December 12, 2015, the first span of the Padma Bridge was installed at the Janjira point of Shariatpur on October 7, 2017.
Shafiqul Islam added that the government has faced many challenges to construct the 6.15-kilometre-long Padma Bridge over the mighty river the Padma.
