Carpeting work on the main structure of the Padma Bridge is going on in full swing that began on Wednesday. Work on the rail link project at both ends of the Padma Bridge is also progressing fast to establish connection with the capital Dhaka.
According to the authorities, work is underway to launch the rail link from Dhaka to Bhanga via Padma Bridge by December 2022.
Above the water proof layer, 100 mm multi-layer is being carpeted in two layers. The first layer with 60 mm thickness was started near pole number 40 of the bridge. On the first day, an area of 344 meters was carpeted from morning till sunset on Wednesday.
Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project Director Md Shafiqul Islam said, carpeting work will go on in full swing now.
The last phase of work is now underway on the Padma Bridge, which was built with the country’s self-funding under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to change the fortunes of the millions of people. The tarcrete work is going on in the two lanes on the west side of the divider on the four-lane Padma Bridge of the road. Gray, yellow, white, and orange waterproof layer is being carpeted with 60 mm thickness in the first layer. Later, in the second layer another 40 mm thick layer will be carpeted. This 100 mm thick carpeting in two layers is considered to be world class.
The project director said that work is underway to make the bridge suitable for traffic movement by next June, keeping the sustainability of 100 years.
People on the banks of Padma are happy that carpeting of Padma Bridge has started. Jaj Sikder, a resident of Kuruli Char in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur, said, “As the tarcrete work of the Padma Bridge has started today, it seems that vehicles will be able to cross the bridge from next year.”
According to Golam Mostafa, a resident of Mawa village in Louhjong upazila, the commencement of tarcrete work means that the bridge will be opened to traffic once the work is completed.
Parapet wall installation and divider construction work are now in the final stages. The work of expansion joint is also progressing at fast pace. The progress of the main bridge can be said to be more than 95 percent and the overall progress of the bridge about 89 percent. Fourt-one (41) spans (main structure) have been installed on 42 pillars of the 6.15 km long Padma Bridge. Roads are being built above these spans and railways below.
The project director said that the carpeting work would not be conducted every day.
“There are various processes. Carpeting (tarcrete work) work on Padma Bridge will be completed by next April. Once the tarcrete work is completed, the Padma Bridge will be suitable for traffic movement. The Bridge will be inaugurated as soon as the painting and lighting work is completed,” he added.
Regarding the overall progress of the bridge, Padma Bridge Project Director Shafiqul Islam said that the progress of the bridge is satisfactory.
“Most of the major work have been completed. All the share pockets on the road have been welded. Of the 12,390 parapet walls of the entire bridge, including the viaduct, only a few are left. The finishing work of the bridge is going on in full swing,” he said.
He said that the quality of work is being prioritised and every work is being done meticulously.
He further said, “Concrete slabs have been laid on the steel structure of the Padma Bridge. Vehicles will move through it. Pitch with a thickness of one hundred millimeters is now being poured on this slab.”
On the other hand, special importance is being given to Dhaka in the rail link project of Padma Bridge.
The people concerned think that the service will be more effective if the rail service is launched by connecting the capital to this rail link project at both the ends of the bridge.
Therefore, along with the construction of Mawa-Bhanga railway, work is going on at the same pace to complete the Dhaka-Mawa railway section while maintaining the same standard.
According to the authorities, the progress of the Mawa section from Dhaka is now about 45 percent. And the progress of Bhanga from Mawa is more than 73 percent. Although the implementation period of the 172 km long railway project from Dhaka to Jessore is scheduled to end in 2024, work is underway to launch the railway network from Dhaka to Bhanga via Padma Bridge by 2022.
A state-of-the-art railway station is being built along the stone-less railway line on the railway link bridge.
The China Railway Engineering Corporation has been given the responsibility of the construction of this project. The Bangladesh Army is working as a construction consultant. Work is underway to build a 77 km railway network from the capital Dhaka to Bhanga in Faridpur.
The work of installing road slabs on the Padma Bridge was done in four parts. It started from March 19, 2019. A total of 2,917 road slabs have been installed on the Padma Bridge.
Besides, the work of installing the railway slab of the bridge was completed on June 20.
On the other hand, the railway authorities are implementing a separate Padma Bridge rail link project worth around Tk 40,000 crore for 172 km railway line from Dhaka to Jessore on the Padma Bridge and its two ends.
Construction of the Padma Bridge began in December 2014. The Padma Bridge became visible on September 30, 2017 with the installation of the first span on poles 37 and 38. According to the latest revised project proposal, the project is expected to be completed by June next year.
The main bridge is being built by China’s Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC) and Sinohydro Corporation. Abdul Momen Limited of Bangladesh has constructed two connecting roads and infrastructure. The structure of Padma Bridge is being constructed with concrete and steel.
The bridge, built at a cost of about Tk 30,193 crore, is scheduled to be opened for traffic movement in June 2022.
