Chinese firm, China Major Bridge Engineering Co Ltd, has got Tk12,000 crore contract for constructing the much-talked-about Padma bridge on Thursday.
A approval came from a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase presided over by Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday afternoon.
After the meeting, Muhith told the Dhaka Tribune: “China Major Bridge Engineering Co Ltd has been selected for constructing Padma bridge with the project cost having increased by Tk3,000 crore.
The contract will be signed in June and the construction work will be completed after four years,” he added.
On May 11, 2010, the government floated the first tender for appointing the constructor of the Padma bridge in 2011. At that time, the project cost was Tk9,127.17 crore.
However, the tender process was suspended in August 2011 following allegations of corruption conspiracy raised by the World Bank.
The final tender was floated on June 26 last year and the China Major Bridge submitted its main financial offer on April 24 this year.
The Bridges Division proposal says the Chinese company offered to build the Padma bridge at a cost of Tk12,133.39 crore – an increase of Tk3,006.22 crore from earlier.
Padma Bridge Project Director M Shafiqul Islam said the increase was normal because of the delay and re-tendering.