No alternative fund for Padma Bridge needed: PM

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said the complexities over the financing by the World Bank (WB) for construction of the Padma Multi-purpose Bridge is temporary, reports BSS. "Initiative is going on to resolve the problem. we hope that the work for the country's largest infrastructure project will begin soon and we will not need to look for alternative sources to finance it," the Prime Minister said in the House while replying to a question. Replying to another question, Sheikh Hasina ruled out the observation of a section of the people that the alignment of the metro rail (MRT Line 6) in the city was being changed time and again due to the objection of the air force. She said the MRT Line-6, which the government has now planned to construct through the Rokeya Sarani touching Khamarbai would not harm the existing Parliament Bhaban or architectural design of Louis Kahn.The Prime Minister said the Padma Bridge at Mawa-Jajira point is a priority project of the present government, which at the very first meeting of its cabinet committee on public procurement approved the project. She said the government has adopted an accelerated programme to begin construction of the bridge in the earliest possible time and complete the works within the stipulated period. Hasina said the pre-qualification assessment of the intending constructors of the main bridge has been done by a committee comprising the Design Consultant and the experts as per the guideline of the WB. The report was sent to the WB on July 18, 2010 for its approval. But, the bank in a letter on September 2010, recommended for re-tendering of the pre-qualification. She said, the WB has given its approval on the pre- qualification assessment report on July 01, 2011. But, the bank's approval for tender document still remains pending. The PM said, the WB has agreed to provide a credit of US$ 1,2 billion for the project and assured of providing an additional US$ 300 million, if required. She said, the approval of the WB, the main coordinator of the financers of the project, is necessary for all documents, tender process, assessment of the pre-qualification of the bidders and selection of the contractors for construction of the bridge. Hasina said the WB follows its own rule while taking a decision and as per the rule, the bank needs to investigate every complain even if it is fictitious or nameless. Meanwhile, about MRT Line 6, the Prime Minister informed the House about the difficulties if the rail route passes through the Bijoy Sarani. "The government has decided to construct the MRT Line-6 as per the recommendations of the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) with the financial support and management of the JICA," she said. Hasina also said that the Awami League government while in power in 1998 handed over the Tajgaon Airport to the air force as its airbase. From that time, it is being used as an airbase and center of relief activities, she added.