Padma bridge: Chinese co’s chance brightens

A Chinese construction company’s chances of building the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Bangladesh’s biggest infrastructure project so far, have brightened. China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd on Thursday was the only one to submit their financial proposal, said Communications Minister Obaidul Quader. But he said the Detailed Design Consultant Maunsell AECOM and the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) would scrutinise the proposal before deciding on giving the contract. The minister told reporters that contractors China Major Bridge Engineering Company, Daelim-L&T JV and Samsung C&T Corporation had taken the tender papers on June 26 last year. The bidding deadline was extended four times following requests by the last two companies. After January 9 was fixed as the final date, they had again sought a 12-week extension, said Quader. After AECOM and the TEC ruled out further delays, Apr 24 was set as the cut-off for submitting the financial proposal, he added, according to a news agency.