Padma Bridge will open to traffic by 2022 end: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told the parliament that work is going on in full swing to open Padma Bridge to traffic by the end of this year.
The premier said this while replying to a query from Awami League MP Shahiduzzaman Sarker.
Earlier on several occasions, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had said that Padma Bridge will open to traffic in June this year.
The question-answer session scheduled for Prime Minister was tabled as the House went into session at 11:05am with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair.
In a scripted answer, Sheikh Hasina said Padma Bridge is one of the most challenging projects in the history of a developing country like Bangladesh after overcoming all obstacles as part of a bold move by the current government.
Noting that 100 percent work on the approach road and service area at both ends of the Padma Bridge project was complete, the Prime Minister said that the physical progress of the main bridge is 96.50 percent.
Construction work of carpeting, viaduct carpeting, waterproof membrane, movement joint of main bridge and viaduct, lamp post, aluminium railing, gas pipeline, 400 KVA electricity and railway line is in progress at present.
She said the revised cost of the Padma Bridge project is Tk 30,193.39 crore.
Hasina, also Leader of the House, informed the parliament that a total of 17 mega projects taken by the government are going on at present.
The mega projects include Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction Project, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Maitree super thermal power project (Rampal), Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project, LNG Terminal and Gas Pipeline Construction Project, Payra Sea Port, Payra Thermal Power Plant, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, Cox’s Bazar Airport Development Project, and Ashrayan Project.