Jica presents draft final report
Construction of Padma bridge likely to start in 2008
Staff Correspondent
The government can start construction of Padma bridge by the end of 2008 and it will take about six years to complete the construction work, according to a report of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).The Jica presented the draft final report yesterday after it along with the Bangladesh government conducted a feasibility study on the Padma bridge. In September last year, the agency placed a progress report of the study, suggesting Mawa-Janjira point covering Munshiganj, Shariatpur and Madaripur districts for bridge construction. The Padma bridge will have four lanes in both direction to meet the Asian Highway standard and a necessary space in the middle for the provision of railway line, according to the draft final report, based on four previous studies. The construction cost of the bridge was estimated at about $ 1257 million, of which $ 895 million will be provided by the foreign countries or donor agencies and the government will bear the rest of the expenditure. A total of 616.5 hectares of land will be required for the construction of the 5.58 km-long and 25-m wide bridge. As a result, 30,000 people will lose their land and 19,000 others will be displaced, according to the report. The southwestern region of the country will benefit most and the regional economic development will get a boost, contributing to poverty alleviation, the report observed. It also said that the government should take steps for proper improvement of the entrance and exit routes to and from Dhaka. M Shibuya, team leader of Jica study team, presented the study report at a city hotel. Communications Minister Nazmul Huda, Charge d' Affaires of Japanese embassy Hidetoshi Ukita, Resident Representative of Jica Akio Arai and Communication Secretary Shafiqul Islam were also present at the ceremony.
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