Bridges Division seeks Tk 72b for Padma Bridge

The Bridges Division has sought Tk 72 billion for the construction work of Padma Bridge in the next development budget for the fiscal year 2015-16, officials said Thursday.
Planning Commission (PC) officials said the Bridges Division has placed the fund demands for its development work along with the Padma Bridge project for finalising the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year (FY).
In the current FY'15 revised ADP, the government has allocated Tk 78.65 billion for the US$ 2.9 billion Padma Bridge project, the country's largest development project.
The Division has sought about Tk 86.71 billion for its projects, including Padma Bridge and Support to Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) for the next fiscal year.
In the current FY'15, the Bridges Division has got Tk 85.62 billion worth of funds in the revised ADP.
Out of the total allocations in the current ADP, the government has provided Tk 65 billion from its own resources while Tk 13.60 billion from US$ 200 million grants, provided by the Indian government in 2010.
"We are reviewing the fund demands placed by the Bridges Division. After completing the review, their outlay will be finalised for the next ADP," a senior PC official told the FE.
The Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA) under the Bridges Division has started construction of the 6.15 kilometres road-cum-railway Padma Bridge with internal resources.
The government will require nearly Tk 240 billion (US$ 2.9 billion) to complete the construction work of Padma Bridge.
In June 2014, the government signed a deal with China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd, a Chinese company, to construct the main bridge.
Under the deal, the company will build the main bridge within four years with a budget of Tk 121.32 billion.
Meanwhile, the government has offered work orders to some other local and foreign companies to build the Padma Bridge connecting roads on Mawa and Jajira sides as well as river training work.
Out of the total fund requirements in the next ADP for FY2016, the Bridges Division has sought Tk 14 billion for the Support to DEE project.
Under this project, the BBA will acquire lands, shift the line of utility services including WASA, telephone, electricity etc from the project sites and develop the lands.
The Bridges Division is one of the key development agencies of the government which is solely dedicated to constructing bridges.
    kabirhumayan10@gmail.com