Anisul Islam Noor :
The cost of Padma bridge, estimated at Tk 101.61 billion on 28 August 2007 when the caretaker government approved the project soared to Tk 287.93 billion so far after a series of cost revisions.
But bridge authorities indicated that the cost may further go up by Tk 15 billion for more land acquisition and such other additional work. Moreover, the bridge will not be completed by end December 2018 as earlier estimated because of revision of the project components that delayed the implementation of the mega project.
The bridge project faced the first setback in 2012 following World Bank’s cancelation of $1.2 billion loan based on allegation of corruption.
The government is now implementing the project with its own funding.
The Project Director Md Shafiqul told The New Nation yesterday that the project cost will further rise. More funds are needed he said to meet additional cost.
An official at the bridges division said the cost of the Padma bridge project will rise by about Tk 15 billion. It has sought Tk 43.96 billion for the Padma bridge project in the 2018-19 budget.
The cost will increase due to pressure to acquire additional land. The project authorities had initially decided to lease and on rent to store construction materials. But a projrct official seeking anonymity said section of local influential people backed by political elements are bringing pressure on the project officials to acquire the land at a high price.
“It means rent seeking is their motive at the cost of local owners of the land.
But we have no alternative but to acquire the land,” the official said. After coming to power in 2009, the Awami League government added a railway line to the project. In 2011, the project cost was revised to Tk 205.07 billion. In 2016, it was further revised to Tk 287.93 billion.
According to officials in the bridges division, around 55 per cent of the construction work has been completed till May 2018. China Major Bridge Engineering Construction Company is implementing the project as the main contractor.
Head of the Padma bridge project expert team professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said it is in no way possible to finish the construction work by December 2018.
“We have brought changes in the design of foundation pillars and the number of pillars has also increased taking extra time,” Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said.
Officials said the soft soil on the riverbed created problems for some of the pillars.
Some 22 pillars have been redesigned and the number of pillars has been increased from 240 to 262.
“Problem in river training is also taking more time,” said an official. About missing the deadline, project director Md Shafiqul Islam said, “We have been working on the extension of the schedule.”
The two-level Padma Bridge stretches from Mawa in Munshiganj to Jajira in Shariatpur.
Trains will run on the steel spans which will be installed on the pillars. Vehicles will run above that.
So far, four spans of the Padma Bridge have been installed, making 600 meters of the bridge visible.
