DHAKA: The preliminary work on much-talked bridge over the mighty river Padma has started in full swing after many speculations, discussions and criticism.
China Major Bridge (CMB) as per dateline has started the work of multi-purpose Padma bridge on last November 8. The first work sign was pointed with number TB7B for constructing pillar.
After testing soil, the brick work of a platform was done with the code number. The pillar will be set at the code point site.
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The construction firm CMB has already brought all the materials to the bridge site ahead of schedule time of six months. For driving piling in the river bed Hydraulic hammers are coming from Singapore and Germany.
The Project Director (PD) of Padma Bridge Mohammad Shafiqul Islam informed the media that the work is now visible.
In the river the pile driving work is running. The 28 percent work of the approach road-1 in Zajira part was done earlier. The 20 percent work of the approach road of Mawa part was complete.
Twenty percent work of service area-2 is already done. In 2018 the bridge will be open to traffic, he hoped.
The bridge division said that 6.15 kilometers super structure will be set in the frame of pile with the help of 41 spine cranes.
According to the bridge division, Padma bridge will be a composite bridge of concrete and steel. If you travel over the bridge it will be like Jamuna bridge while underneath it will look like Hardinge bridge, he added.
This two-storey bridge will be 6.15 kms long. Most of its work will be done by concrete and steel.
The foundation of the bridge will go to such depth that it will be like 40-storey building. Six lanes from different angles will be connected with the bridge on both sides.
The bridge division sources said that mobilization of materials is complete. Work of test pile will start at the end of next January.
The sources informed the media that the work of 100 meter width alignment channel in the river is nearly complete. The alignment channel has been dug in silted points of the river.
First Pillar of Padma Bridge is TB7B
After testing all kinds of soil, the work of pillar point has been determined. A small brick work platform has already been built. The code number has been marked on that platform.
The first pillar will be driven here. This has created enthusiasm among the local people who are telling amongst that ‘here will be the first pillar’ of the dream bridge.
On Friday last while visiting Mawa and Zajira areas of the bridge site, it was found the huge work business everywhere, including construction of approach road, sounds of concrete mixture machine and movements of cranes. Soil testing is very much important for the bridge construction.
Soil testing is done by Chinese Engineer Poes Yeu. He was taking notes from the computer reading of the data. The reading was being taken of the quality of soil from 1.2 meter to 58.95 meter depth for 67 times CPT, SBPT, SPT, HPT and DMT.
Poes informed the media that the whole process is computerized. The machines used here are made of Germany, UK or China.
Chinese bridge construction firm Bridge Resonance Design Institute – BRDI is doing the soil testing work.
Peasants of Padma bank are now businesspeople
Farmers living on the banks of Padma are no more in farming now. They have become businesspeople. Not any trifling business, they have started transport, jewelry etc. A radical change has taken place in their profession.
People of South-West part of the country will enjoy the facility of the bridge. The people who sacrificed their land for the bridge have also been benefited.
They got compensation money in cash and a plot for rehabilitation. Padma bridge project did not affect anybody rather it has benefited them.
Urban life for Padma bank people
About 11 thousand hectares of land have been acquired much earlier in Padma river bank area.
Seven rehabilitation centers for the affected people due to acquisition have been setup on both sides of the river. Of the total, four at Mawa point, two at Zajira and one at Shibchar.
In these centers, power substation, drainage system, schools, markets, mosques, drinking water facilities and pond – all these modern arrangements have been made available.
There are a total of 998 rehabilitation plots at both sides of the river for the affected people. New habitation is under process in these centers.
** ‘Mini China Town’ by river Padma
BDST: 2132 HRS, DEC 14, 2014
