Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Thursday said removal of soil beneath Padma Rail Bridge was a planned engineering measure carried out under the project's design and does not pose any risk to the viaduct or the bridge's structural stability.
Talking to reporters after visiting the bridge at Aliganj in Fatullah upazila of Narayanganj, the minister also rejected recent reports claiming that indiscriminate excavation beneath the bridge could threaten the viaduct, describing such allegations as "baseless."
"It is true that soil has been removed beneath the bridge, but what has not been explained is that the excavation was necessary and undertaken in accordance with the project plan," he said.
The minister said the 16.76-kilometre viaduct connecting Dhaka and Mawa was originally built across wetland. During construction, temporary earth filling was used to create access for heavy machinery and construction materials, a standard practice in viaduct projects worldwide. Under the project's contractual obligations, the temporary embankment must be removed once construction is completed to restore the natural landscape.
He said that 14.41 kilometres of the temporary fill have already been removed, while excavation along the remaining 2.34 kilometres is still underway. The work, he added, is intended to restore natural water flow and the area's original environmental condition.
Explaining the engineering safeguards, the minister said around 5.5 feet of soil is being removed to return the land to its previous ground level.
"There is no negative impact from soil removal. Rather, it contributes to the bridge's long-term safety and environmental sustainability," he said.
The minister also noted that the land belongs to Bangladesh Railway and could be used for future expansion of the viaduct, including the addition of another rail line if required.
State Minister for Road Transport and Railways Habibur Rashid, Railways Secretary Fahimul Islam, and Project Director Brigadier Abul Hasnat Mohammad Sayem were also present during the visit.
