Padma Bridge designing may start in June
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
FE Report
The work of designing the country's proposed largest bridge Padma is likely to start next June aiming to begin its construction work from early 2010, official sources said.
Chief Engineer of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority (JMBA) Abdullahel Kafi told the FE that a consulting firm would be appointed within two to three months to start the detailed design of the bridge.
He said: "The Asian Development Bank and the JMBA have jointly short-listed five international consulting firms for the detailed design works reviewing their initial proposals. Out of them, finally one will be appointed within two to three months. The selected firm is expected to start its work from June next."
Communications secretary Dr Mahbubur Rahman told the FE recently that the government was trying to start the construction work of the country's mega project, the Padma Bridge, from early 2010.
Before starting the main construction work of the bridge, a consulting firm will prepare the detailed design and will also complete necessary works by December 2009, he expected.
The consulting firm will prepare scheme designs, conduct necessary technical studies, develop detailed engineering design and tender documents for the main bridge, approach roads, and the river training works, and assist the JMBA in undertaking tender-related actions including contractor's pre-qualification, preparation of selection criteria, tender evaluation, and final contract documentation, sources in the JMBA said.
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already confirmed their US$17.6 million loan to prepare the detailed design for the construction of the Tk 101.6175 billion ($1.46 billion) Padma Bridge that will link the country's relatively backward southwest zone with the relatively developed eastern zones including capital Dhaka.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the mega project on October 20.
The proposed 5.558 kilometre bridge at Mawa-Janjira point on the river Padma will be constructed by the fiscal 2014-2015.
According to sources in the JMBA, the ADB, responsible for procuring the consultant, will seek financial and technical offers from the selected five consulting firms for preparing the detailed design soon and then will finally appoint one of them, reviewing the offers.
The funding-agency ADB will take the consent of the communications ministry for finalising the appointment of the consulting firm, the sources added.
Meanwhile, the government is looking for funds for constructing the Padma Bridge with the support of different donors.
Sources said the World Bank and the ADB had already assured government of providing US$300 million each for construction of the proposed largest bridge of the country.
Besides, the Japan government also assured Bangladesh of giving financial support which could go up to $300 million, the sources added.
The work of designing the country's proposed largest bridge Padma is likely to start next June aiming to begin its construction work from early 2010, official sources said.
Chief Engineer of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority (JMBA) Abdullahel Kafi told the FE that a consulting firm would be appointed within two to three months to start the detailed design of the bridge.
He said: "The Asian Development Bank and the JMBA have jointly short-listed five international consulting firms for the detailed design works reviewing their initial proposals. Out of them, finally one will be appointed within two to three months. The selected firm is expected to start its work from June next."
Communications secretary Dr Mahbubur Rahman told the FE recently that the government was trying to start the construction work of the country's mega project, the Padma Bridge, from early 2010.
Before starting the main construction work of the bridge, a consulting firm will prepare the detailed design and will also complete necessary works by December 2009, he expected.
The consulting firm will prepare scheme designs, conduct necessary technical studies, develop detailed engineering design and tender documents for the main bridge, approach roads, and the river training works, and assist the JMBA in undertaking tender-related actions including contractor's pre-qualification, preparation of selection criteria, tender evaluation, and final contract documentation, sources in the JMBA said.
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already confirmed their US$17.6 million loan to prepare the detailed design for the construction of the Tk 101.6175 billion ($1.46 billion) Padma Bridge that will link the country's relatively backward southwest zone with the relatively developed eastern zones including capital Dhaka.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the mega project on October 20.
The proposed 5.558 kilometre bridge at Mawa-Janjira point on the river Padma will be constructed by the fiscal 2014-2015.
According to sources in the JMBA, the ADB, responsible for procuring the consultant, will seek financial and technical offers from the selected five consulting firms for preparing the detailed design soon and then will finally appoint one of them, reviewing the offers.
The funding-agency ADB will take the consent of the communications ministry for finalising the appointment of the consulting firm, the sources added.
Meanwhile, the government is looking for funds for constructing the Padma Bridge with the support of different donors.
Sources said the World Bank and the ADB had already assured government of providing US$300 million each for construction of the proposed largest bridge of the country.
Besides, the Japan government also assured Bangladesh of giving financial support which could go up to $300 million, the sources added.