The Padma Bridge Tender

The communications minister, Syed Abul Hossain, Sunday brushed aside speculation about delay in starting construction work of the long-cherished Padma Multipurpose Bridge saying tender for the bridge would be invited this month.

Donors have so far confirmed $2.65 billion and Japan’s commitment of financing to the project would not be delayed despite ongoing crisis, he told a workshop at a hotel in the city.

The workshop was organised on a feasibility study of the Asian Development Bank on Bus-Rapid Transit system.

Among others, secretary of Roads and Railways Department M Mozammel Haque Khan, chief engineer of Roads and Highways Department M Sahabuddin, ADB city transport specialist David Margonsztern and project director of Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Corridor Project M Aminur Rahman spoke.

Abul Hossain said work on river training of the Padma Multipurpose Project had already started while compensating of affected people at the construction site and building infrastructure at resettlement site were nearing completion.

He informed the workshop that $190 million would be invested for the proposed BRT in which the ADB would give $125 million and the remaining finance would come from other donor agencies.

A loan agreement on the project would be signed with donor agencies by January next, he said adding that necessary works including design and tender would be done ahead of the agreement.

Abul Hossain said the government was planning to form a separate body titled ‘Dhaka Mass Transport Authority’ comprising all projects taken to meet the growing demand for transport needs in the city.

The minister said 26-km elevated expressway from Airport to Dhaka-Chittagong Highway-Kutubkhali would start this month.

Listing various steps taken by the government, he said traffic jam in the capital would be reduced to a large extent during the government’s tenure as a number of projects are being implemented to that end.

The minister said Dhaka city would be freed from traffic jam once Kuril flyover, Mayor Hanif flyover, Mirpur-Airport flyover, elevated expressway, metro rail and bus rapid transit are implemented.