Padma Bridge to Open for Traffic by End of the Year: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the Padma Bridge will be opened for traffic by the end of this year. Work is in full swing to make the Padma Bridge open for vehicles movement by the end of 2022.

The Prime Minister made the remarks in response to a question from the Shahiduzzaman government of the Naogaon-2 constituency during the question and answer session of the Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday (April 7). Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the question and answer session of the Prime Minister.

Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had said that the Padma Multipurpose Bridge could be opened to everyone for movement in June this year.

The Prime Minister said the work on the approach road and service area at both ends of the Padma Bridge project has been completed. The physical progress of the main bridge is 96.50 percent. Construction of carpeting, viaduct carpeting, and waterproof membrane, movement joint of main bridge and viaduct, lamppost, aluminum railing, gas pipeline, 400 kVA power, and railway line is in progress at present.

She said the Padma Bridge is going to be one of the biggest challenging projects in the history of a developing country like Bangladesh, overcoming all obstacles as part of the bold move of the present government.

She also told the parliament that the revised cost for the construction of the 6.15 km long bridge has increased to Tk 30,193.39 crore.