Padma Bridge completes one year

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge, one of the mega structures in the country, has successfully completed one year after its inauguration. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge as the country’s largest and one of the important projects, just one year ago on June 25 in 2022.

The 6.15km megaproject, the dream and the pride of Bengalis, was seen not only as a remarkable achievement of the current Awami League government but also regarded as a major landmark in the development history of Bangladesh.

With the inauguration of the bridge, the dream of the people of 21 districts of the south were fulfilled and at the same time Bangladesh had gone one step ahead in fulfilling its national dream.

A tourist spot developed on the banks of the Padma has made the bridge more attractive. People from the South region of the country have been enjoying the real benefits of the bridge. Eid journey has been made so easy for the people of 21 districts of the Southern region which was once unimaginable to them.

It was the country’s biggest self-financed mega project which is likely to boost GDP by 1.2 to 2 per cent.

Over Tk 800 crore toll has been collected from vehicles that crossed the Padma Bridge in 12 months since its inauguration.

The Finance Division has so far received Tk 632,90,97,000 out of total loan taken for construction of Padma Bridge in four instalments repaid by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Earlier, on April 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a cheque of Tk 316,90,97,049 as the first and second instalments of loan repayment. In presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Finance Division received a cheque of Tk 316,02,69,399 as the third and fourth instalments of loan repayment on June 19.

The loan was taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.

On June 25, 2022, the prime minister opened the country’s largest bridge over the mighty Padma River.

The 6.15-km bridge directly connected the country’s 21 south and south-western districts with the capital, and it is expected to accelerate the GDP growth by 1.23 per cent and make an outstanding contribution to socio-economic development by alleviating poverty.

The total allocation was Tk 30,193.39 crore, but the allocation for the main bridge was Tk 12,133.39 crore (including Tk 1,000 crore for installation of 400-kv electricity transmission line and gas line).

Besides, the Tk 9,400 crore was allocated for river training works, Tk 1,907.68 crore for approach roads (including two toll plazas, construction of two buildings for police stations and three service areas), Tk 1,515 crore for the rehabilitation of the displaced people (caused by the project) and Tk 2698.73 crore for land acquisition.

The construction cost of Padma Bridge is expected to be recovered in the next 35 years.

Padma Bridge became visible with the installation of the first span on 37th and 38th number pillars on September 30 in 2017.

Later, all 41 spans were installed on 42 pillars one after another. The entire structure of the multi-purpose 6.15 kilometer Padma Bridge took its final shape with the installation of its last 41st span on December 10 in 2020.

According to project details, the construction of the main bridge was carried out by China Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC), a Chinese contractor Company, and the river treatment was done by Sino Hydro Corporation of China.

The first span of the Padma Bridge was installed at the Janjira point of Shariatpur on October 7 in 2017.

The construction work began in December of 2015 as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the river training work and main construction work of Padma Multipurpose Bridge project at Janjira point in Shariatpur district on December 12 in 2015.

The Prime Minister formally laid the foundation stone of Padma Bridge at Mawa in Munshiganj on July 4 in 2001.