Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, the much-hyped mega project of the country, nears completion as it has become fully visible with the installation of its last span.
The last span, named 2S, installed on pillars 12 and 13 of the bridge at Mawa point around on Thursday, said Executive Engineer (Bridge) Dewan Md Abdul Quader. Workers started their work around 9 am to bring the last span to the bridge point.
This is one of the top priority projects of the government as it has planned to strengthen the country’s communication network, aiming to give a boost to economic activities.
The construction work on the 6.15-km bridge started in November, 2014 and the mega structure is expected to be open to traffic in 2022.
Once in operation, the Padma Bridge, Bangladesh’s largest infrastructure project till date, will connect 21 southern districts with its capital Dhaka and boost the GDP by 1 percent.
China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation (MBEC), was appointed for the main bridge. The steel material bridge’s length is 6.15 km, viaduct 3.148 km (road), 532 m (rail), approach road: 12.117 km, span: 41 (with each span being 150 meters long).
However, the project was first approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) with an estimated cost of Tk10,161 crore in 2007.
