Leaving behind controversies, financial and construction hurdles, the dream of Padma Multipurpose Bridge looks like becoming a reality with one-fourth of its construction work completed so far.
The project plan aims to complete rest of the two-tier 6.15km-long bridge by December 2018.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to inaugurate the construction of the main bridge and river training work on December 12, Dewan Abdul Quader, executive engineer of Bangladesh Bridges Authority for the project, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“So, we are working at a faster pace,” he said during a visit by this correspondent to the main construction site, river bank and mid river areas of the bridge.
Thousands of workers were seen carrying out directives from the engineers of the China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation (MBEC), which was appointed to construct the main section of the bridge.
Soil testing and dredging works were being carried out mid-river.
The Padma bridge will have a total of 42 pillars with each of them having six piles beneath. A total of 41 steel spans will be placed on the pillars.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the seventh pillar, which is located in the mid region of the Padma River.
Abdul Quader said: “The PM will inaugurate the main construction work at the river bank of the Mawa site and then she will travel by a sea-boat to open the river training and piling work in the mid-river region of the project.”
In the mid-river project area, several workers were seen engaged in piling work under the supervision of a Chinese engineer.
Hamidul – one of these workers – said seven specialised marine vessels and cranes were brought for river training and piling work to build the pillars of the bridge.
China’s Sinohydro Corporation was appointed for the river training work while Bangladesh’s Abdul Monem Limited was given the contract for the two link roads and infrastructure construction.
Work on the Padma bridge is broadly divided into four parts – the main bridge, river training, two link roads and infrastructure (service area) construction.
Quader said: “Around 17% work of the main bridge and 13% of river training has been completed. Among the two link roads, around 59% of the Jajira approach road and selected bridge end facilities has been completed. On Mawa side of the project, 63% construction work has been completed.”