Padma bridge to be completed in 3 yrs
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
FE Report
Communications minister Syed Abul Hossain on Tuesday said the prestigious Padma bridge project will be completed in three years after commencing its work in December next. He admitted that the goal is 'ambitious'.
The minister said the government is committed to implementing the country's largest infrastructure on time with transparency and integrity and sought cooperation and support from the people and development partners in achieving the target.
The minister said this while disclosing progress of the US$ 2.4 billion Padma multipurpose bridge project at a press conference in the city on Tuesday.
"Many people raise the question as to how the 6.15 km bridge can be constructed within three years, when a 1.0 km bridge needs the same span of time to be completed. But the government is very sincere and careful about this project and set the plan differently," the minister said adding that it has been planned to divide the work of the main bridge in segments and manage it by increasing manpower and equipment.
Abul Hossain said the government has already invited tender for pre-qualification bidders on April 11 and decided to finalise the selection by June with a target to appoint contractors for the main bridge by October 2010.
"The bridge division and the authorities concerned are working relentlessly to commence the bridge construction by December 2010," the communications minister said revealing that the co-financiers have extended their best of cooperation to the government in achieving the ambitious target.
Though chiefs of the multi-donor project, who attended the press conference, assured the government of timely construction of the road-cum-rail project, they said the development partners will not compromise on the quality of preparations which include technical designs, contracting arrangements, environmental management and social action plans.
"While speed is desirable, we will not compromise on the quality of preparations for what will be the largest infrastructural asset for Bangladesh," said Ellen Goldstein, World Bank country director as coordinator of the development partners.
Sharing the views of a joint mission, which visited the country in March, the WB chief said despite the fact that good progress has been made, some gaps are there when it comes to completing the environmental management plan and social action plans.
She highlighted two prerequisites for starting the project works on the ground and said selection of consulting services for supervision of the construction work and strengthening management capacity of the Bridge Authority and implementation of the resettlement action plan are to be given priority.
The communications minister expressed gratitude to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Islamic Development Bank for their longstanding partnership in the project and assured them of strictly maintaining transparency and integrity in all stages of implementation.
Communications minister Syed Abul Hossain on Tuesday said the prestigious Padma bridge project will be completed in three years after commencing its work in December next. He admitted that the goal is 'ambitious'.
The minister said the government is committed to implementing the country's largest infrastructure on time with transparency and integrity and sought cooperation and support from the people and development partners in achieving the target.
The minister said this while disclosing progress of the US$ 2.4 billion Padma multipurpose bridge project at a press conference in the city on Tuesday.
"Many people raise the question as to how the 6.15 km bridge can be constructed within three years, when a 1.0 km bridge needs the same span of time to be completed. But the government is very sincere and careful about this project and set the plan differently," the minister said adding that it has been planned to divide the work of the main bridge in segments and manage it by increasing manpower and equipment.
Abul Hossain said the government has already invited tender for pre-qualification bidders on April 11 and decided to finalise the selection by June with a target to appoint contractors for the main bridge by October 2010.
"The bridge division and the authorities concerned are working relentlessly to commence the bridge construction by December 2010," the communications minister said revealing that the co-financiers have extended their best of cooperation to the government in achieving the ambitious target.
Though chiefs of the multi-donor project, who attended the press conference, assured the government of timely construction of the road-cum-rail project, they said the development partners will not compromise on the quality of preparations which include technical designs, contracting arrangements, environmental management and social action plans.
"While speed is desirable, we will not compromise on the quality of preparations for what will be the largest infrastructural asset for Bangladesh," said Ellen Goldstein, World Bank country director as coordinator of the development partners.
Sharing the views of a joint mission, which visited the country in March, the WB chief said despite the fact that good progress has been made, some gaps are there when it comes to completing the environmental management plan and social action plans.
She highlighted two prerequisites for starting the project works on the ground and said selection of consulting services for supervision of the construction work and strengthening management capacity of the Bridge Authority and implementation of the resettlement action plan are to be given priority.
The communications minister expressed gratitude to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Islamic Development Bank for their longstanding partnership in the project and assured them of strictly maintaining transparency and integrity in all stages of implementation.