Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told the parliament that the proposed Padma Bridge could be opened to traffic by 2018 as her government had awarded the construction work to China Major Bridge Engineering Company.
In reply to a supplementary question from independent MP Rustom Ali Farazi, she said no overweight vehicles would be allowed over Padma Bridge.
“The construction of Padma Bridge would finish in around four years. So, hopefully vehicles can cross over the bridge by 2018,” Hasina told the MPs during the scheduled question-answer hour for the prime minister as the House had its second sitting with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
“Our efforts would be to open the bridge before 2018,” she said, adding that an approach road had already been completed.
In the written answer script, the prime minister said the construction work of the main structure of the 6.15-kilometre bridge would begin by June-July. She said the government would build the bridge, which would connect Dhaka with the south-western and central southern regions of Bangladesh, with its own resources as she previously told the parliament.
The prime minister said her previous government initiated the construction of the bridge in 2001 and Japan carried out the feasibility study.
She said the BNP-Jamaat government tried to change the location of the bridge and took it to Paturia and Daulatdia, ultimately stalling the whole project. The premier said the international lender came forward as the Awami League government restarted the process to build the bridge in 2009.
“But the funding was stopped according to the desire of some persons,” said Hasina, referring that the World Bank could not produce any relevant documents substantiating the alleged corruption of her government.
“Now we will construct the bridge with own funding; there is no scope for looking back,” she said, mentioning that US $20 billion reserve would be used for this. She also made it clear that the government would still welcome foreign funding.
“We have given allocation in the budget.”
Replying to another question from Haji Selim, the prime minister said even the honourable MP must abide by the rules to carry cargoes over the bridge and no additional cargoes would be allowed.
“The vehicles trying to carry goods beyond permitted limit would be alerted three times (to stop such practice),” Hasina said, adding that for such next attempt, the vehicles would be banned on the bridge.
Jatiya Party MP Kazi Feroz Rashid, who owned a brokerage house, asked the prime minister whether the government would issue share bonds for Padma Bridge.
“We will examine whether we can issue share bonds,” said Hasina.
