DHAKA: The construction work of Padma Multipurpose Bridge, country’s biggest infrastructural project, is progressing despite enduring countrywide blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party.
The construction materials are now being carried through river route instead of road. These materials including the test piles of main bridge are being carried by inland ships from Chittagong sea port to Mawa ghat.
The concerned officials informed that the setting up of test piles will begin on March 1. Meanwhile, the six-member international consultants, including Dr. Ainun Nishat, led by Professor Dr. Zamilur Reza Chowdhury visited the construction work of the bridge on Friday (February 6).
All six members have expressed satisfaction over the progress of the work.
The progress of the construction works at the bridge site was seen unaffected by the non-stop blockade. The work of the big project is going on as usual.
The construction site, which was an open space a few days ago, at the Mawa part of the river is now an enclosed space and has only one gate for entry.
After entering the workshop it was seen that a big mixture machines were mixing cement, sand and stone chips. Sounds of bulldozers were heard all around; thousands of labors were seen busy with their works.
The goods-laden ships were anchoring in the jetties while giant cranes were unloading those.
The houses, measuring about one square kilometer, for the officers and experts of the construction work is now almost complete where workshop will be accommodating. It was learnt that more engineers and workers from China will reach here soon.
The concerned people informed that the construction materials of the bridge are being shipped safely in river route instead of road amid blockade. This is taking a more time, they added.
An executive engineer of the project told banglanews that some of the test piles of the main bridge have already reached at the site. The hammers of the trial piles also have reached in Chittagong port from Singapore which will be carried to Mawa by river route.
The officials also said that the main hammers will reach here from Germany at the end of April.
Another superintending engineer of project said that the preparations and mobilization of materials are underway as the driving of test piles will start from March 1. The work of dredging an area of 250 meters from Mawa to Jajira is also underway.
After inspecting the progress of project the consultant panel chief Prof. Dr. Zamilur Reza Chowdhury told Banglanews that “The work is progressing as per schedule and work of three packages out of five have advanced much.”
He further said that the work on connecting roads, service area, office of the consultants and laboratory is almost nearing completion.
Mentioning that the expert panel held a meeting with two senior engineers of China Major Bridge on Friday, he also said hammers of test piles would reach within Saturday (February 7).
“The engineers also have given a detailed pictographic presentation on the construction of main hammers in Germany,” he added.
As per government declaration in 2018 transportation over the bridge will begin when crores of people of 21 districts of Southern Bangladesh will be benefited.
There will also be rail-tracks in the two storied infrastructure of the bridge. Taka 6,000 crores have already been spent in the construction work of 6.25 kilometers long bridge of which estimated cost is Tk 20,507.20 crore.
BDST: 1750 HRS, FEB 07, 2015
