The progress of Padma bridge construction in 7 years is very little despite a lot of buzz over the issue. The cost of the construction is increasing with time.
The Padma bridge construction was initially estimated Tk 10 thousand crore, but now the projected cost has crossed Tk 25 thousand crore mark. The figure will increase more.
Only the China Major Bridge Engineering Construction Company submitted financial proposal for the construction of main bridge last month. The tender evaluation committee agreed to the proposal of Tk 12 thousand 133 crore of China Major Bridge and assigned the company for the project.
The issue of assigning the China company in the Padma bridge project may be presented in the public procurement committee meeting today (Thursday). If the procurement committee approved the proposal, the Bridges Division will appoint the Chinese company.
Caretaker government advisor Mirza A B Azizul Islam told Prothom Alo that the work of Chinese companies in different projects of telecom sector and Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane project were not satisfactory. Moreover, unlimited opportunity to enhance the time span and cost of the project may create difficulties in future.
The cost for the construction of main bridge will increase by Tk 3,772 crore if the committee approved the fiscal proposal of China Major Bridge. The Revised Developmental Project Proposal (RDPP) was approved for the Padma bridge project in National Economic Council Executive committee in 2011. The proposal fixed Tk 8,361 crore as the cost for constructing the main bridge.
But Bridges Division said the total cost may increased by 5 to 6 thousand crore taka for river training and is consulting firms.
Although in the RDPP, the assumed cost for river training was Tk 4,388 crore, the contractors are supposed to submit their financial proposal in this issue within 29 May. Then the final cost can be known.
The construction cost of the two link roads was estimated to be Tk 1,270 crore whereas Abdul Monem Limited has been assigned for Tk 1,290 crore.
In the same way, the assumed cost for appointing consultant for supervision of the bridge is Tk 345 crore.
Meanwhile Army has been assigned as security provider and for other jobs in exchange for Tk 205 crore.
The process of appointing consultant for the main bridge and river training is going on. Moreover contractors were allotted Tk 250 crore to prevent river erosion.
Source: Prothom Alo