Padma Bridge cost escalates further

The executive committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Thursday approved an additional allocation of Tk 14 billion for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, news agency UNB reports.

The approval came from an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room with its chairperson and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

While briefing reporters after the meeting, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a proposal to allocate additional Tk 14 billion for the project was approved as it needs to acquire more land temporarily for 25 years for the river management at the bridge site.

The cost of the project has been revised for several times.

The cost of Padma bridge was estimated at Tk 101.61 billion on 28 August 2007 when the caretaker government approved the project.

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, the project was revised upwardly to Tk 287.93 billion.

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (2nd revised) is being implemented as a fast-track project with an estimated cost of Tk 287.93 billion.

The project is scheduled to be finished by December next.

However, project experts have earlier told Prothom Alo that the 6.15 km multipurpose bridge is hardly likely to be completed within the stipulated time.

Three out of five components of the project works -- Janzira connecting road, Mawa connecting road and Service Area-2 -- have already been completed, the minister said, adding that work on the main bridge construction and the river training is now underway.

Read more : Padma bridge not in Dec, cost increases https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/177182/Padma-bridge-not-in-Dec-cost-increases