Shawdesh Desk:

The government is mulling to build the second Padma Bridge in Paturia-Goalanda route on Dhaka-Faridpur highway under its own financing like the first Padma Bridge.

If all goes well, a final survey will be conducted before the next budget to verify the feasibility of the bridge.

According to the relevant sources, China will provide technical assistance for the 2nd Padma Bridge. The government is keen to complete the survey before the next budget and start design work quickly. The experience of the 1st Padma Bridge will be used in this.

It is learned that if no financier comes forward voluntarily, the 2nd Padma bridge will be funded by the government itself. If necessary, reserve money can be used. The government can also move forward based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The government is moving forward with multiple possible options.

Meanwhile, the work of the widely discussed dream Padma Bridge is progressing at a fast pace. So far, 82 percent of the project has been completed. The physical progress of the work on the main bridge has been 91 percent. All the spans have already been installed.

It is expected that after the completion of first Padma bridge works, its experience can be accepted after review.

The proposed bridge will connect National Highways at the Paturia and Goalundo Sides respectively, which are linked by the ferry services. These connecting roads are both in good conditions and do not require improvements, according to the project profile.

A pre-feasibility study was conducted in 1999. After that, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a feasibility study of a fixed river crossing, incorporating road, railway, telecommunication and gas across the Padma River. The study was completed in January 2005 and the consultant had submitted the final report in May 2005. In the study, 4 Crossing sites; Paturia-Goalundo, Dohar-Charbhadrasan, Mawa- Janjira and Chadpur-Bhedaraganj) were considered based on a plan-form of the Padma river. All four sites were subject to initial screening following which, two preferred sites; Paturia-Goalundo and Mawa- Janjira were selected based on the comparative studies from physical, technical, economic, local infrastructure and social/environmental perspective. The Government has already taken steps necessary for the construction of the 1st Padma Bridge at Mawa- Janjira location.

Some districts of Mid and Northwest region will take some time to cross the Padma river through Mawa-Janjira point than Paturia-Goalundo location. To shorten the distance between Meherpur, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Jhenadaha, Magura, Rajbari, Faridpur and parts of Narail, Gopalganj, Jessore and Madaripur Districts with Dhaka and Eastern part of the country it is imperative to construct 2nd Padma Bridge at Paturia-Goalundo location.