The duration for completing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction (Third Amendment) project has been extended at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting was chaired by prime minister and Ecnec chairperson Sheikh Hasina.
According to the revised project, the total cost of the project has been increased by Tk2,412.13 crore and the total cost of the project has been estimated at Tk32,605.52 crore.
At the same time, the duration of the project has been extended till June 2024. The project was supposed to complete in June this year.
Ministry of Planning cited 14 reasons for extension of project period. These are:
- Increase in VAT and Income Tax rates from time to time by the government
- Increase in cost of consultants engaged for major bridge and river management works
- Culvert and road section extension of National Highway N-8
- Execution of additional works for operation and maintenance (O&M) of bridges and ancillary civil works
- Expenditure on the occasion of inauguration of Padma Bridge
- Rise in the value of foreign currency (currency fluctuation)
- Provision of money for unsettled claims by contractors for main bridge and river management works.
- Design changes to main bridge piles
- Additional cost for construction of foundation platform of 400KV transmission tower
- Filling the hole created dept in the river at the end of Mawa
- Expenditure to shift from Kanthalbari to Banglabazar Ferry Ghat
- Design changes in Mawa river management works
- Increase in cost due to geo bag size change
- BIWTA Ferry channel dredging, dam closure, purchase of survey vessel from Majhikandi to Shimulia
Padma Bridge was inaugurated in June 25, 2022. It was opened for traffic from the following day, June 26.
