DHAKA: The dream project of Padma Bridge has made its place in the Trans-Asian Railway. The speed limit of the rail will be 160-km/h over this 6.15-km bridge.
In the detail design of railway in India and other countries of the world, the amount of Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) loading has increased from 81 to 119. The purpose of the DFC is to provide a safe and efficient freight transportation system.
Confirming this information, director of Padma Bridge project Shafiqul Islam told banglanews that the project, approved in 2007, was different from the present project.
‘To keep it a state-of-art, many enhancements have been made in the project. DFC loading is increased from 81 to 119. The increment of DFC will enable the bridge to sustain a maximum of 160-km/h train operation.’
Bangladesh Bridge Division sources say that changes have been made on the both sides of the bridge to enable the vehicular movement and train transport simultaneously.
To keep it updated with international standard and to adjust the both sides of train and vehicular operations, a 3.15km road and 0.532 rail viaducts have been added with the main design, the sources added.
Considering the present condition of the world economy and due to the enhancement of new development of the bridge, both the implementation time and expenditure of the project have increased.
The sources further said that Padma Bridge is not just an example of huge expenditure but a unique and aesthetic structure considering the scenario of Bangladesh.
According to them, a detailed modification has been made to keep continue the plying of vehicle, ship, launch and steamer despite the gradually changing river course. Even if water-level goes down, vessel movement will remain undisturbed.
Other than these, considering the possibility of earthquake the seismic factor is also increased from 0.125g to 0.150g (the acceleration due to earth's gravity, equivalent to g-force).
The sources continued saying that this dream project will become a reality through these five packages – the main bridge, river-management, Jajira-Mawa approach road, bridge and facilities and service area.
Another source from the Bridge Division has informed banglanews, ‘The source and type of financing and the foreign currency exchange rate have been changed under present circumstances. Government has taken the challenge of new scenario, increasing Tk 3,722-crore according to the contract.’
‘The planning commission has been informed about these new enhancements to keep things transparent between ministries,’ the source added.
Some new information has been found as well from the Bridge Division sources.
On Mawa side of the river, a 1.3-km riverbank protection project has been sanctioned and according to the contract, an extra expenditure of Tk 5,000-crore will be used for river-management project.
A sum of Tk 125-crore will additionally be allocated for Engineering Support and Safety Team and shifting the ferry-ghat and to widen the streets.
The main operation of Padma in a glance
The project will include construction of 6.15Km bridge, acquisition of 1,530-hector land, construction of 66,000-square feet office building, 13.80-km river management, 12-km approach road, constructions of toll plaza, service area-2, widening the road, building construction yard and shifting ferry-ghat.
Additional 405.77-hector land acquisition will cost Tk 212-crore. Moreover, the expenditure has been estimated about Tk 20,507.20-crore on the first amendment of the project due to the change of design, increased area of land and consultants and other reasons.
On the second amendment of the project, the expenditure was estimated Tk 28,793.39-crore.
The dream project of Padma Bridge, which started in January of 2009, will be complete by 2019, said the officials concerned.
BDST: 1702 HRS, DEC 09, 2015
AIK/RS/RR
