The Padma Bridge is on the verge of completion. Droves of engineers, workers, technicians are busy working round the clock braving the pandemic situation to complete the remaining only six per cent work.
The completion of the dream bridge will usher in a new era of hope and a window of opportunities for the people of the south-western region of the country. It will change the lot of the people of the region with economic prosperity.
The construction of the Padma Bridge will create a vast scope for economic development and progress of the people of the south and south-western region of the country.
The construction of the bridge will improve the integrated communication structure of the country. The southern part of the country will get connected to the Trans-Asian Highway (N-8) and the Trans-Asian Railway. Bangladesh will have international connectivity with India, Bhutan and Nepal. Economic zones, high-tech parks and private industrial cities will be built on both sides of the bridge. Investment will increase to a great extent there and employment will increase.
Mongla and Payra seaports will be operational. The tourism industry will flourish and new and old tourist destinations, including Kuakata beach in the southern region, the Sundarbans, the sixty-domed mosque, Bangabandhu Mausoleum in Tungipara, old and new resorts at Mawa and Jazira will attract domestic and foreign tourists. According to the 2010 estimates, 12,000 vehicles were crossing the Padma River. The traffic can double, if the bridge is opened, the number of vehicles will increase by 7-8 per cent every year and by 2050, 67,000 vehicles will run.
Over the past few years, our economic progress, GDP growth, and the gradual improvement of various social indicators have gained international recognition. Bangladesh's capacity has been recognized due to its own mega projects like the Padma Bridge. We have talents. Our knowledge is no less than that of others. For taking this bold decision, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has gained applause far and wide. The nation will forever remember China's mechanical and financial cooperation in the construction of the bridge.
On the whole , the Padma, Bridge will create a possibility of enormous business opportunity involving Tk 155 billion dollar by 2030.
Implementation of the Padma Bridge is near completion overcoming the local and foreign conspiracies. A section of local conspirators raised false allegation of corruption in fund scheduled to be allocated by the World Bank. Taking cognizance of the allegations the World Bank had stopped the loan granting process, but the brave daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is an undaunted person and was firm on materializing her dream of bridging the two banks of the Padma. She did not bow down and took a bold decision to materialize her dream with own resources of the country.
The construction of the bridge will have a huge economic impact on the country. In an analysis or study report by Maunsell, the bridge's design consultant, in 2010, the bridge's Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) was 1.6 per cent and the Economic Internal Rate of Return (ERR) was 18 per cent. Add the cost of bridge construction. The BCR will be 2.1 and ERR 22 per cent. In other words, construction of this bridge will be economically profitable.
Dhaka's communication with 21 southern districts will be reduced by 2 to 4 hours. The direct connectivity with the capital will help expand trade and commerce, ease supply of raw materials and industrialization. Small and big industries will be set up in the 21 districts. Agriculture will greatly improve. Farmers will get better commodity prices. Production will increase.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 31, 2013 rejected the loan of the World Bank and announced the construction of the Padma Bridge with own funds. This was a bold and a historical decision. Work on the Padma Bridge was inaugurated in 2015. The first span of the Padma Bridge was laid in 2016. The last span was set up on 10 December 2020.
The decision of building the bridge with the country’s own resources had stunned the whole world and taken the country to new height.
On the other hand, the construction of the Padma Bridge has opened a new avenue of economic development for the people of the south and south-western region of the country. The neglected areas have got the chance to be developed.
The approach road of Padma Bridge at the Mawa end and 12.8 km at the Jazira end have been constructed. Construction expenditure of Padma Bridge increases day by day. In 2007 during the tenure of Caretaker government the expenditure of Padma Bridge was estimated at Taka 10,161 crore (1.47 billion US dollars). That time road construction plan involved 5.58 km. On 6th January, 2008 Awami League formed government. In January the US-New Zealand-Australia-based advisory firm Maunsell-Accom was selected for making the detailed design of the bridge.
Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader has announced that the Padma Bridge will open to traffic in 2022. The Padma Bridge has been praised at home and abroad for its self-financing. The dignity of the country has also increased. It has been able to set an example of Bangladesh's economic potential. Bangladesh can do something good. Bangladesh is now a capable country.
Problems with the World Bank, loan suspensions and delays on different occasions have prolonged implementation of the bridge. The construction of the bridge was supposed to be completed in 2014. Now the expenditure is Tk 301.93 billion (30,193 crore).
