The delay in the construction of Padma bridge continues pushing up its
expenditure as a new project of Tk 325 crore has been launched to
protect the project area at Mawa point from erosion.
Erosion reaching up to 100 metres along a 300-metre stretch at Old Ferryghat of Mawa has endangered the 1.70-km embankment protection area.
If not checked, erosion would also affect the area of approach road, said project officials.
The communications ministry has therefore been compelled to take up the new project. The ministry was supposed to take up a project to safeguard the area last year, but had to give up the plan thinking of an additional expenditure from public exchequer.
The move comes a year after the government launched a Tk 100 crore project to protect the construction yard from erosion at Janjira point, the other end of Mawa. The international contractor to be selected for the main bridge construction was supposed to do the job.
“The expenditure could have been avoided had there been no delay in Padma bridge construction,” said a project official at Mawa, requesting anonymity. “Any further delay will only increase the cost,” he added.
He said the international contractor to be selected for the river training work will handle the river erosion and embankment protection issues.
The process to select a company for river training task is underway as the government last week floated an international tender for Tk 7,000 crore. The selection process will take three to five months.
While visiting the erosion point last week, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said the erosion could have been checked if measures had been taken last year in this regard.
A project proposal now awaits prime minister’s approval under which erosion in 700 metres area would be checked, he added.
It is yet to be finalised whether the Water Development Board or Bangladesh Army will be given the project. But sources in the communications ministry said the government might assign the army for quick execution of the project.
On June 26, the government invited a Tk 10,000 crore tender for the construction of the main part of the bridge. A firm is likely to be selected for the job by January next.
A Bangladesh-Malaysia joint venture company is constructing the approach road at Janjira point in the bridge area under a Tk 1,097 crore agreement.
A Tk 250 crore tender has recently been floated for building the other approach road and a service area at Mawa point.
The government also spent Tk 1,500 crore on design, rehabilitation and resettlement.
The government had earlier planned to start construction of the 6.15-km bridge, and complete the major part of it within its tenure. However, it could not be possible as the donors cancelled funds over allegations of corruption in the project.
Erosion reaching up to 100 metres along a 300-metre stretch at Old Ferryghat of Mawa has endangered the 1.70-km embankment protection area.
If not checked, erosion would also affect the area of approach road, said project officials.
The communications ministry has therefore been compelled to take up the new project. The ministry was supposed to take up a project to safeguard the area last year, but had to give up the plan thinking of an additional expenditure from public exchequer.
The move comes a year after the government launched a Tk 100 crore project to protect the construction yard from erosion at Janjira point, the other end of Mawa. The international contractor to be selected for the main bridge construction was supposed to do the job.
“The expenditure could have been avoided had there been no delay in Padma bridge construction,” said a project official at Mawa, requesting anonymity. “Any further delay will only increase the cost,” he added.
He said the international contractor to be selected for the river training work will handle the river erosion and embankment protection issues.
The process to select a company for river training task is underway as the government last week floated an international tender for Tk 7,000 crore. The selection process will take three to five months.
While visiting the erosion point last week, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said the erosion could have been checked if measures had been taken last year in this regard.
A project proposal now awaits prime minister’s approval under which erosion in 700 metres area would be checked, he added.
It is yet to be finalised whether the Water Development Board or Bangladesh Army will be given the project. But sources in the communications ministry said the government might assign the army for quick execution of the project.
On June 26, the government invited a Tk 10,000 crore tender for the construction of the main part of the bridge. A firm is likely to be selected for the job by January next.
A Bangladesh-Malaysia joint venture company is constructing the approach road at Janjira point in the bridge area under a Tk 1,097 crore agreement.
A Tk 250 crore tender has recently been floated for building the other approach road and a service area at Mawa point.
The government also spent Tk 1,500 crore on design, rehabilitation and resettlement.
The government had earlier planned to start construction of the 6.15-km bridge, and complete the major part of it within its tenure. However, it could not be possible as the donors cancelled funds over allegations of corruption in the project.
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