“The Bridge Division is working now for floating the tenders,’’ Quader said while talking to reporters at his ministry after signing a MoD (minutes of discussion) agreement between the Bangladesh government and JICA.
The agreement was signed after primary discussions on the project between high officials. Kei Poyama, senior representative of JICA, and MAN Siddque, secretary of the Road Division, signed the MoD on behalf of their respective sides.
Obaidul Quader said 187 bridges will be built, rebuilt and renovated in the country’s western districts under the ‘Western Bangladesh Bridge Implementation Project’.
Turning to the Tk 22,000-crore Metro Rail Project in Dhaka, the minister said the work on the important project will begin within July next.
The Communications Ministry has already begun its works to procure lands from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) for building depots for the metro rail project, the minister told the journalists.
The government singed an agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). As per the deal, JICA is financing Tk 16,500 crore while the rest by the government.
Obaidul Quader also said the construction work on the Second Meghna Bridge, Second Gomoti Bridge and Second Kanchpur Bridge will begin in September this year.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has already approved a Tk 9,000-crore project to construct the three vital bridges on the busy Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
Of the total project cost, the Japanese government will provide Tk 6,000.