Project director rules out concerns

Social media over the past few days has been abuzz with the speculation that quality of construction of the under-construction bridge, on the Payra river at Lebukhali on Patuakhali-Dhaka highway, has been below par.

The speculation was fuelled by photos and videos of a small 'damaged' part of the Tk 1,446-crore bridge, taken by passersby, which gained traction in Facebook and other social media outlets recently.

The construction work of the bridge has been in full swing with a tentative date to make it open to public by July this year.

While visiting the southern end of the bridge near its second pier around noon on March 19, this correspondent spotted a small section of concrete surface -- about 2 feet long and 1.5 feet wide -- that seemed to have fallen off.

Engineer Abdul Halim, project director of the bridge's construction work, said the issue was a negligible one.

Extensive pressure might have caused it, but those who lack technical knowledge have been spreading rumours about it. He also urged all not to pay heed to the rumours.

Travel between Patuakhali's Kuakata beach and Dhaka via Barisal is expected to be smoother once the two remaining ferry services -- on the Padma and Payra rivers -- on the route are replaced by two brand new bridges. The bridge will also create direct road connectivity between Payra seaport and the rest of the country.

According to the Payra bridge project director, although the construction work had to be slowed down due to the corona situation, 90 percent of the 1.47-kilometre-long bridge's infrastructure has been completed so far. 

The width of the four-lane bridge is 19.76 metres and there will be a total of seven kilometres of approach road on both sides of the bridge.

As a means to ensure normal flow of current and navigability in the river, only one pier is built in mid-river and 200-metre-long spans -- the longest in any bridge in the country -- are used in Payra bridge. Its height clearance has been set at 18.30 metres, based on average water level during normal times. Moreover, solar energy will be used to illuminate the bridge, he also said.   

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid foundation stone of the bridge in 2013.