So far, the work of 14 out of 41 pillars of the main bridge has been completed. On September 29, Jajira Point of Shariatpur. Photo: Prothom Alo
So far, the work of 14 out of 41 pillars of the main bridge has been completed. On September 29, Jajira Point of Shariatpur. Photo: Prothom Alo

Delay Reasons:

The bridges department has said four reasons for delay in the construction of Padma Bridge, which include fast track or priority projects. For example, due to the soft ground level of the river, problems of setting up of a bridge pillar, design of new 22 pillar designs, delay in river administration and river erosion and tremendous currents.

Main bridge and river administration are the biggest tasks of the project. According to progressive documents of the project, the work of the main bridge was 66 percent till August. That means average progress of 1 decimal 43 percent per month. At this speed it will take at least two years to finish the rest. The progress of river administration is 42.5 percent. Average progress per month is less than 1 percent. It may take up to five years to complete the work at the pace.

An official of the bridge division said in the light of the condition of not disclosing the name, so far the work of 14 out of 41 pillars of the main bridge has been completed. Five steel structures (spans) on the pillar are already sitting. Now 700 meters of the bridge is visible. But there is no possibility of any span in the next three months. Because, due to the complexity of the piling, it is not necessary to install the pillar to connect to the 750 meters. In all, the speed at which the work is in progress, the work will not be completed before 2021.

Asked about the project's expert panel chief Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said in the first light that the original bridge work may take up to one year and river administration two years more. When asked about the possibility of increasing its expenditure and expenditure due to the increase in time, he said, as long as the bridge is going on, the financial benefit that will be availed by the use of it will not be available. If the price of fuel oil, steel, cement, and foreign currency increases, he can increase the cost, he said.

He did not agree to comment when he contacted the Padma bridge project director Shafiqul Islam for the speech.