Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the work on metro rail project in the capital will begin at the end of the next month, reports UNB. “The first-phase work of the project will be completed by 2019 although the initial deadline for completing the work was 2024,” said the minister at a roundtable titled ‘Padma Bridge: new lifeline of development’ at the Daily Star bhaban in the capital. The Daily Star and BSRM jointly arranged the function, moderated by noted engineer Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury. Over the recent human chain programme against the proposed metro rail route through the Dhaka University campus, he said the university authorities granted permission earlier in this regard. “Why they are organising human chain after four years? It’s a big project, if its work is disrupted once, it won’t be implemented in time,” Quader added. About the Padma Bridge project, the minister said that now its construction is no more a challenge but there are some challenges in the river training work as the flow of the Padma River is unpredictable like the Amazon River. He said the construction work of the mega project with the country’s own fund has honoured the country across the globe.
The bridge will open to vehicles and trains on the same day as the Railways Ministry has capacity to set up railway connectivity from Bhanga to Mawa within the stipulated time. He, however, said building railway infrastructure from Dhaka to Mawa will take more time. Touring other mega projects, he said the work of Dhaka Elevated Expressway from Uttara to Kutubkhali has already started.
About two busy highways, he said the works of the first layer of Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane and Joydebpurt-Mymensingh four-lane are about to be completed. And it’ll be possible to inaugurate the two four-lane highways by the Prime Minister at the end of May next, he hoped.
Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury said benefit to cost ratio is very high in the Padma Bridge Project. The rate of return on investment has been estimated at 21 per cent - meaning the project is expected to pay itself back in just under five years. Usually 12 percent is considered a good internal rate of return in Bangladesh, although the number varies according to the size of the investment and crucially the sector.
Focusing on development aspects of the project, he said it’ll set up connectivity with the south-western region of the country, that is very fertile and productive, but handicapped by lack of marketing facilities.
Investment in the region will increase with the development of infrastructure, he added.
Besides, the 6.1-km bridge will connect the country’s second-most important seaport, Mongla, and the Khulna industrial area with other part of the country. It will also be an important part of the Asian Highway and the Tokyo-London Trans-Asian Railway, he said.
“As early as the project is completed, the country’s economy will be benefitted,” Dr Choudhury said.
Nahim Razzaq MP (Shariatpur-3) said the GDP growth will increase by 1.66 per cent and per capita income will double following construction of the Padma Bridge.