Wrong site selection to increase cost of Padma Bridge

The present selected site at Mawa-Jajira point for construction of Padma Bridge will increase the cost from the estimated Tk 20 thousand crore, as the choice is “wrong”.

Desh Premik Janaganer Mancha came up with the apprehension on Friday morning at a human chain in front of the National Press Club.

The organisation held the programme titled ‘Padma Bridge at wrong site increases construction cost leaving the bridge in threat’.

Engineer M Enamul Haq, Chairman of the organisation, said the south part of the present bridge site is vulnerable to river erosion that increased the length of the bridge from 6 km to 10km.

He informed that according to a 2004 survey report by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) the estimated construction cost of 5.58-km Bridge was Tk 8,558 crore while Finance Minister AMA Muhith said at a press conference on October 20 this year the construction cost would come to TK 20,300 crore.

“The extended length of the bridge is the reason behind the cost overrun,” said organisation chairman.

To reduce the cost he suggested constructing the bridge at Dhohar-Char Badrason point instead of Mawa-Jajira point.

Barrister Sadia Mahmud, Joint Secretary of Desh Premik Janaganer Mancha, Abdul Wahid Mazumder and Khandoker Masud-uz-zaman and spoke at the function, among others.

Banglanews24

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