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Only 300 metres left to complete Padma Bridge


Published : 27 Nov 2020 10:26 PM | Updated : 28 Nov 2020 11:29 AM

Only 300 meters will remain in hand to complete a 6,150-meter or 6.15 kilometers long much awaited Padma multipurpose Bridge as the 39th span was installed on Friday.

“Preparations have been completed to install the 39th span of the bridge at Mawa point and installation would make 5,850 meters visible of the main structure of the bridge,” Executive Engineer Dewan Md Abdul Quader of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Authority told media.

The span, bearing a number 2-D, is going to be set up on 10 and 11 pillars after four days of placing the previous one, said the official. “The rest two 40 and 41 spans will be installed within December 15,” he added.

Meanwhile, a floating crane Tian-E brought the span from the construction yard at Kumarbhogh in Mawa at about 9:00am.

Of the total 41 spans of the bridge are now visible. And the remaining two spans following the installation of 39th span will be set up by December 15, sources said.

Earlier on November 21, the authorities installed 38th span on the Padma Bridge, making some 5,700 meters of the bridge visible.

The multi-purpose Padma Bridge is expected to be opened in 2021.

The Padma Bridge, a multipurpose road-rail bridge under construction across the Padma River will connect the south-west region of the country to northern and eastern regions.

The Bridge will connect Louhajong, Munshiganj to Shariatpur and Madaripur, linking the south-western part of the country, to northern and eastern regions.

In the future, the bridge will also connect the Asian Highway. It will play an important role in many areas including South Asia and Southeast Asia, including communications, trade and tourism.

The national economy is expected to witness 1.2 percent GDP growth rate, while 0.84 percent poverty will be reduced every year after completion of the bridge.

The Padma Bridge will open for traffic in June 2021. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the bridge.

On October 14, 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the name plaque of Padma Bridge Toll Plaza at the Mawa end.

And the project work began in 2007 at an estimated cost of Tk 10,162 crore but the cost inflated several times and finally stood at Tk 30,193 crore. 

The Padma Bridge project was scheduled to complete on December 30, 2019. Later, the deadline was extended till June 2021.