The Padma Bridge is a multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River under construction in Bangladesh. It will connect Louhajong, Munshiganj to Shariatpur and Madaripur, linking the south-west of the country, to northern and eastern regions. Padma Bridge is the most challenging construction project in the history of Bangladesh. The two-level steel truss bridge will carry a four-lane highway on the upper level and a single track railway on a lower level.[3] With 150.12 m (492.5 ft) span, 6.241 km (3.878 mi) total length and 18.18 m (59.6 ft) width, it is going to be the largest bridge in the Padma-Brahmaputra-Meghna river basins of country in terms of both span and the total length.[4] Padma Bridge, when commissioned, is expected to boost the GDP of Bangladesh by as much as 1.2 percent.[5]
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History[edit]
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) invited the pre-qualification tender for the project in April 2010. Construction of the bridge was expected to commence by early 2011[6] and be ready for major completion in 2013 (and complete all sections by late 2015[7]).
After allegation of corruption by some people associated with project preparation the World Bank withdrew its commitment and other donors followed. The Government of Bangladesh then decided to fund the project from its own fund.[4]
China proposed building the bridge on the build-own-transfer (BOT) basis by investing $2 billion or 70 percent of the project cost. Four companies—China Major Bridge Engineering Company, Daelim-L&T JV and Samsung C&T Corporation—purchased the tender papers. But only the Chinese company submitted their financial proposal on 24 April 2014.
On 17 June 2014, important progress had been made in the construction of the Padma Bridge. A construction firm, China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd, has been selected to construct the long aspired bridge on the river Padma. The 6.15 km bridge, costing an estimated ৳91.72 billion (US$1.1 billion).
On 17 June 2014, important progress had been made in the construction of the Padma Bridge. A construction firm, China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd, has been selected to construct the long aspired bridge on the river Padma. The 6.15 km bridge, costing an estimated ৳91.72 billion (US$1.1 billion).