Overall
construction work of the first Padma Bridge (Mawa - Zazira) has already been completed
more than 80 percent. This update is an example for the development partners working
with Bangladesh in the World. And now the Government is trying to fulfill the
vision to build the second Padma Bridge.
In the 47th
annual national budget for the fiscal year 2018-2019 the second Padma Bridge
has been proposed but the allocation was not finalized. The previous Finance
Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith told this on June 07, 2019. Based on a report
published on Banglanews24 he said “The government has planned to construct 2nd
Padma Bridge on Paturia - Daulatdia (Goalanda) point in the Padma River. The
feasibility study work has begun. The 2nd Padma Bridge will be built on this
route in future.”
The recent
news about the 2nd Padma Bridge is, the World Bank and the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) has initially agreed to fund the project. The decision
will be final after the Government chooses the investor whether as a single or
joint financing. The Government authority has had multiple discussions with the
World Bank and ADB authorities. The financing agencies are yet to be finalized.
Negotiations are underway and the decision will be taken soon by the
Government.
The World
Bank can verify feasibility once again this year. JICA (Japan International
Cooperation Agency) has previously done feasibility once regarding construction
of 2nd Bridge on Padma. China wants to provide technical supports
for the second Padma Bridge like the first Padma Bridge which is presently
under construction. Initial discussions were held with the Chinese government about
this.
In the
detailed survey performed by JICA, they identified four places as convenient to
build the bridge. These are:
- Paturia - Goalanda Point (Daulatdia)
- Dohar – Char Bhadrasan
- Mawa – Jazira
- Chandpur – Bhedarganj
Among
these four points, the construction work on implementing the country's largest 1st
Padma multipurpose bridge at Mawa - Jazira Point is ongoing full swing. If everything
goes well then there is maximum possibility of second Padma Bridge will be at
Paturia - Goalanda point.
Construction
of the second Padma Bridge will reduce the distance of road connectivity and
travelling time with Meherpur, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Magura, Rajbari, Gopalganj,
parts of Jessore and Madaripur district with the capital city Dhaka.
The approximate
length of the proposed 2nd Padma Bridge will be 6.10 kilometer. The project’s estimated
cost will be more than 13,121 Crore BD Taka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has
already approved the proposal for this project. Initially, the cost was
estimated at BD Taka 10,000 crore and that time, the length was 5 kilometers. The
cost has increased due to the increase of length.
The
government is keeping an open option of implementing this project through
Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. Earlier, the Japan International
Co-operation Agency (JICA) was requested for investment but they did not
respond positively. The government has also proposed for funding to the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) a few days ago. But
that discussion did not proceed further for various reasons.
Now the
World Bank and ADB are showing interest to finance on the project. The Chinese
government has also agreed to provide technical assistance.
On 27th
October 2011, the Second Padma Bridge project was approved in a meeting of
Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Although it was
supposed to start the project in early 2013 but due to several reasons it was
not possible.
Finally, after almost seven years, the dream of
building the 2nd Padma Bridge has come up again. The government has been
strengthening the process of implementation of the project. Hope the Bridge
will start and finish soon.
source: bd-pratidin
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