Padma bridge proposed to be over 6km

The length of the Padma Bridge would be 6.15km instead of 5.58 km as the consulting firm in its design has proposed to extend it by 570 metres. The consultant firm, Maunsell Aecom Limited, disclosed the new length in its interim scheme design presentation programme at a city hotel yesterday. Consultant of the project Ken Wheeler presented the design. "The consultant in its design has proposed extension of the bridge length for which the bridge will now be 6.15km," Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told reporters at the programme. The design would be finalised by next month, he said, adding that the construction of the bridge would be completed by the end of December 2013 when the tenure of the government also ends. Until yesterday, the consultant firm has finalised only 15 percent of the design. In its design, it has proposed two sizes of spans--150 metres and 180 metres. The construction cost of 150-metre span will be $ 816 million while $ 887 for the 180-metre span, the minister said. Replying to a query, he said there would be no problem in having the funds for the bridge. Officials of Bridge Division Authority said the funds for constructing the country's proposed longest bridge on the Padma river connecting Mawa in Munshiganj with Jazira in Madaripur would almost entirely be provided by international lenders, including World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Japan International Corporation Agency. In the meantime, IDB has agreed to provide Bangladesh with $1.3 billion for construction of the much-awaited Padma Bridge. He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had envisioned the bridge to connect the northern region with the southern one. The communications minister said the bridge would boost economic activities facilitating movement of goods. A couple of week ago, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the communications minister to take immediate steps to start the tender process for constructing the bridge. Abul Hossain also said already almost all compensation money for land acquisition in three districts--Shariatpur, Madaripur and Munshiganj-- has been given to the respective district's deputy commissioners for resettlement of people. Representatives from different donor agencies, experts, a team of consultants and senior government officials were present at the programme.