31pc of Padma bridge work complete, says Obaidul
STAFF REPORTER
Construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) project is in full swing and of 31 per cent has already been completed, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader informed yesterday.
The minister was talking to reporters after signing an agreement on appointment of consultants for PMB project management support and elevated expressway projects at Setu Bhaban in the city.
Project Director of PMB project Shafiqul Islam and Director of High Point Rendel, UK, Vardaman Jones signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
The government has also appointed a consultant for the Dhaka-Ashulia and East-West Elevated Expressway projects. Chief Engineer of the Bangladesh Bridges Authority Kabir Ahmed and Regional Manager of SMEC International Pty Ltd, Australia, in South Asia-2, Mohiuddin Mahmud signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Among others, Bridges Secretary Khondaker Anwarul Islam, Chief Coordinator of Construction Supervision of PMB project Major General Abu Sayeed M Masud and other high officials were present during the agreement signing ceremony.
According to sources, the Authority had invited Expression of Interest (EoI) twice for appointing consultants for the Management Support Consultancy (MSC) of PMB.
The authority received 30 proposals, of which the evaluation committee led by Prof Zamilur Reza Chowdhury selected five companies. The companies were Systra S.A, France Associates, EPTISA Servicios de Ingenieria, S.L, Spain Associates, High Point Rendel, UK Associates, Royal Haskoning DHV, Netherland Associates and Nippon Koei Co Ltd Japan Associates.
However, SMEC International Pty Ltd, Australia, Dev Consultants Limited, ACE Consultants Ltd and Bangladesh JV partner in association with COWI A/S, Denmark, have been appointed to conduct feasibility studies on the two elevated expressway projects.
Elevated expressways are to be constructed over the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-Abdullahpur-Ashulia-EPZ, including two flyovers at Chandra Nabi Nagar and Hemayetpur (on Dhaka-Aricha Highway), Nimtoli-Keraniganj-Ekuria-Zazira-Fatulla-Hajiganj-Bandar-Madanpur (on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway) under East-West Expressway Project.
