The much-awaited Padma Bridge is nearing completion as 70 percent construction work of the main structure of the 6.15-km long bridge has already been completed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit the construction site on Sunday when she is set to inaugurate the construction work of the bridge’s rail link.
According to Railways Ministry sources, the first phase of the ‘Padma Bridge Rail Link Construction Project’ will establish rail link between Mawa and Bhanga via Janjira and Shibchar through the Padma Multipurpose Bridge that will connect Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Narail and Jashore.
Hasina inaugurated the main bridge construction and river training work at Janzira in Shariatpur and Mawa in Munshiganj in December 2015.
“Construction work of the mega Padma Bridge is progressing fast as over 70 percent work of the main structure of the dream bridge has so far been completed,” Project Director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge M Shafiqul Islam told BSS.
He said the overall progress of the work of the project is 60 percent. So far, Taka 167.95 billion has been spent of the Taka 301.93 billion project, he added.
“We have finished our preparation works on the both sides of the mighty river Padma as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to visit the Padma Bridge to inaugurate the railway link tomorrow”, said the project director.
According to the project details, the government allocated Taka 43.95 billion for the project in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of financial year 2018-19. Construction work of approach road at Jajira and Mawa points along with service area has already been completed.
The river training is also progressing fast and over 42 percent work has been completed, while river training for 1,300 meter area is going fast to protect the area from river erosion on the Mawa side.
“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. With the installation of the fifth span of the bridge in June, over 775 metres of the main bridge is now visible, said the project director.
He said each span of the bridge is 150 metres long and a total of 41 spans will be installed on 42 pillars. Six spans of the bridge have been installed so far, he added.
The bridge is expected to open up a new horizon in the country’s communication system and bring a revolutionary change in the life and livelihood of nearly 60 million people of 19 southern districts as it will connect them with the rest of the country including the capital, Dhaka, directly, experts said.