Bridge authority inks deal with four consultants

Bangladesh Bridge Authority yesterday inked a Tk 169 crore deal with four international and local consultancy firms for Management Support Consultancy (MSC) service for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.

Md Shafiqul Islam, project director of the Padma bridge project and Vardaman Jones, director of High Point Rendel, UK, on behalf of the four companies signed the deal in the capital's Setu Bhaban in presence of Obaidul Quader, road transport and bridges minister.

The deal has been signed for a four year period. During this time, the firms will supervise construction works of the main bridge, river training, both the Janjira and Mawa approach roads, service area-2, rehabilitation centres and the environmental impact.

A total of 30 companies showed interest for the MSC. Technical Evaluation Committee headed by Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury short listed five; among them two became technically responsive. 

BBA also signed a Tk 16.22 crore deal with a four-joint venture consultancy firms for conducting feasibility study to construct a 35km Dhaka-Ashulia and a 80km East-West elevated expressway, signed by Kabir Ahmed, BBA's chief engineer and Mohiuddin Mahmud, regional manager for South Asia-2 of SMEC International Pty Ltd, Australia.

Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway will start from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to EPZ via Nabinagar while East-West will start from Hemayetput on Dhaka-Aricha highway to Madanpur on Dhaka-Chittagong highway via Keraniganj and Fatullah.