Padma Bridge among 3 mega projects to be opened in 2022

Three mega projects – Padma Multipurpose Bridge, a portion of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT-6), and Karnaphuli tunnel – will be opened to traffic next year as construction is nearing an end.

Besides, seven fast-track projects, including the three, have gathered pace as construction is going on in full swing, said a progress report prepared by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED).

The four other projects are Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Matarbari power plant, Payra sea port, and Padma rail link.

The report said the implementing agencies want to complete the projects on schedule.

It said the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project’s overall progress was 89 per cent till November while its financial progress was 87.67 per cent. The main bridge construction progress was 95.25 per cent.

The much-awaited bridge is expected to be open for all by June next year. The time frame has been extended several times to complete construction and river training.

The project cost is estimated at Tk 30,193.39 crore while construction started in November 2014.

MRT-6 involving Tk 21,985 crore under the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit development project clocked a 72.99 per cent implementation till November.

The progress of the project’s Uttara to Agargaon section was 89.88 per cent while that of Agargaon to Motijheel was 71.82 per cent. The IMED called for strengthening monitoring to accelerate execution.

The overall progress of Karnaphuli tunnel was 75 per cent till November. The 3.32km tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram is expected to be ready for vehicular movement by 2022.

The Payra port’s overall progress was 83 per cent till November. The IMED report said the project would be completed by June 2022. The project cost is estimated at Tk 4,374.47 crore.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project’s progress was 42 per cent till November.

The Padma rail link project’s financial progress was 51.82 per cent till November while physical progress was 48 per cent.

The Matarbari power plant project’s overall progress was 50 per cent till November.