Padma Bridge full structure construction completed: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the construction work of entire structure of the much-awaited Padma Bridge was completed with the installation of last girder on the viaduct at Mawa end in Munshiganj.

“The progress of construction works of the main bridge is 93.25 percent so far. River training works progress is 83 percent and the overall project progress reached 85.5 percent,” he said, speaking at a view-exchange with the BRTC and BRTA’s Sylhet Zone officials.

Quader, also Awami League general secretary, joined the meeting virtually from his official residence in Dhaka, reports BSS.

The minister hoped the Padma Bridge would be opened for vehicular movement in June, 2022.

Turning to coronavirus situation, he said it is very difficult to understand the characteristics of Covid-19 as it is taking different forms in different times.

So, there is no alternative to maintaining health guidelines and wearing facemask appropriately, he said.

“We will have to give much attention to maintaining health guidelines,” he added.

Referring to the terrible condition in neighbouring India, he said Covid-19 patients are in severe crisis of oxygen and beds at hospitals in that country while many patients are dying before reaching hospital.

They are not getting crematorium and graveyards for last rituals of the Covid-19 victims, he mentioned.

“So, we will have to remain alert at the highest level,” he said.

Mentioning that there is no need of worries over vaccines, he said as long as humanitarian leader like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is holding the helm of the country, the nation will overcome the crisis of Covid-19 one day.

About Dhaka-Sylhet and Sylhet-Tamabil Highway Project, the minister said now this is one of the priority projects. So, much importance should be given to upgrading the highway to four-lane.

He said recently the project works have been accelerated.

Quader urged the ministry’s secretary and chief engineering concerned to make further efforts to begin the construction work of the project quickly.