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Festive atmosphere prevails as Padma Bridge Final Span gets ready to be installed.

All 7 KM will be visible (work still continues on viaducts on both sides).

 
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Payra-Lebukhali bridge approaches completion near Payra Port. Will get commissioned before Padma Bridge, in June 2021. When Padma Bridge is complete in March 2022, it will offer free unhindered access from Dhaka (capital) via freeway to the coastal area near Payra port, where Export Zones and Naval bases are already under construction and has a large powerplant.

 
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The 6.15 km long superstructure of the Padma Multipurpose bridge is now visible after the installation of the last (41st) span earlier today!


Best news from Bangladesh in all of 2020, If I may opine so.


Hopefully, everything proceeds as planned and the bridge is opened for public use by 2022.
 
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The 6.15 km long superstructure of the Padma Multipurpose bridge is now visible after the installation of the last (41st) span earlier today!


Best news from Bangladesh in all of 2020, If I may opine so.


Hopefully, everything proceeds as planned and the bridge is opened for public use by 2022.

Masha'Allah a great milestone in the history of our progress as a nation. Hoping for smooth completion InshaAllah by early Q1 2022.

Three great firsts in the world of civil engineering around the world were pioneered for this bridge, such as,

1. Deepest specialized piling for all on-water piers, down to 122 meters using 3 meter radius piles using specialized custom German piling hammer, also the world's largest. Soil is very soft in the river bottom, base rock is very deep.

2. Friction bearing pendulum capability is 10,000 tons, capable of withstanding earthquake force at Richter scale 9.

3. Largest ever River Training Works contract (14 km length) by SinoHydro for 4 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT: 8707.81 crore.
 
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A river, a bridge, a dream taking form and substance
Ali Asif Shawon, Tanjil Hasan from Munshiganj
  • Published at 11:48 am December 10th, 2020
Last span of Padma Bridge

Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

With the installation of its last span, the long-awaited multipurpose bridge is now fully visible
In a historic day for the nation, the long-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge, a lifelong dream for the southern districts of the country, has become fully visible following the installation of its last span.
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (PMBP) authorities installed the 41st and last span of the 6.15km long bridge on Thursday.

PMBP Executive Engineer Dewan Md Abdul Quader confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
According to PMBP officials, the 41st span (2-F) was installed on pillars 12 and 13 at the Mawa end.

More than 81% of the total construction work has been done and 91% of the construction work of the main bridge is complete, officials told Dhaka Tribune.
The bridge, which was funded domestically, will connect the capital with 21 southern districts through road and railways. The first span of the bridge was installed in September 2017. Three years later, the last span has been installed.

Beginning in the morning, a lot of people gathered on the Padma River to watch the installation. However, they had to observe the span installation from a distance as a patrol boat of the Bangladesh Army was patrolling in the area to ensure safety.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, the flags of Bangladesh and China were posted on the last span.
People moved around on the river in small boats and speed boats, took pictures and selfies beside the Padma Bridge. They expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as the premier herself had committed to the construction of the bridge despite negative attitudes from the World Bank and some other big merchant groups on allegations of corruption. The allegations were later found to be not true.

padma-mehedi-1-1607602114193.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, told reporters on Monday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had nipped all conspiracies in the bud by having the Padma Bridge built.

“By installing the last span of the Padma Bridge, Bangladesh has shown the world that we can achieve the impossible. No one can express this feeling in words. We, indeed the entire country, are grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Khalid Mahmud said while on his way to the Padma River to visit the construction site of Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury ferry ghat of Madaripur.

“Bangabandhu taught us how to achieve something. Under his leadership, we got the country, we got independence, sovereignty. Today we got the Padma Bridge through his daughter,” the state minister added.

Also Read- Padma Bridge: Dream becoming a reality against all odds

Al Nahian Khan Joy, president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, visited the Padma River to observe the last span installation process of the bridge along with Chhatra League’s General Secretary Lekhak Bhattachariya and some others.

While talking to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday afternoon, Joy said it was another victory for Bangladesh in the Month of Victory.

“It was done under the leadership of our pride Sheikh Hasina. She made this impossible thing possible in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Joy added.

How much work is still left?
Although the installation of the spans are completed, there is still some work left.

padma-mehedi-1607602195537.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Installation of prefabricated slabs over the spans is also underway to prepare the bridge for traffic. Around 2,917 slabs need to be installed over the spans while 1,333 slabs are already installed.

Similarly, 2,959 railway sleepers are required for the bridge, with 1,942 sleepers already installed.

Prof Shamim Z Bosunia, chairman of the government’s expert panel on the PMBP, said there was still a lot of work to be done after the installation of the spans.

He said: “As far as I know, it will take 22 months to install the railway sleepers, but the contractor has been instructed to do it in two shifts per day in order to finish the work within 11/12 months.

“After the slabs are installed, concrete casting, road division and road marking need to be done simultaneously.”

When will the bridge be opened for traffic?

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was likely be opened to traffic after being completed by June 2022.

unnamed-1607584254929.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

“The Padma Bridge is now a reality. It is physically completed. I think by June 2022, we will open the Padma Bridge for traffic,” he said while speaking at a meeting of the Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance at Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Thursday.

“I am still looking after the project,” he added, mentioning that he had served as secretary of the bridge department for eight years.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said it would take 10-12 months to complete the other remaining works of the Padma Bridge after the installation of the last span.
The Bridges Division projected that the total construction of the bridge would likely reach completion in mid-2022.

Also Read- Overall progress of Padma Bridge rail link project now at 28.23%

The current deadline for the project is June 2021, meaning that the project is likely to see another revision for time extension. The project cost rose to Tk30,193 crore after several revisions.

With the extension of the deadline comes the possibility of an increase in cost. The Bridges Division, however, projected that the cost would not escalate again. As of September 30, Tk23,796.24 had been spent on the project.

The construction of the bridge began in November 2015, with a view to connecting the country's south-western region with the capital via road and rail. Once in service, the 6.15km bridge will connect the capital with 21 south-western districts. It is expected to boost the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.2%.
Obaidul Quader had previously, however, stated that GDP would increase by 1.50%-2% after the completion of the bridge.

The long-anticipated Padma Bridge is expected to change the socioeconomic structure of southern Bangladesh and have a positive effect on the country’s economy.

unnamed-1607584436911.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

It will also connect many countries of South and Southeast Asia and contribute to communication, trade, industry, tourism and many other sectors in various ways.

‘Padma Bridge becomes visible fully defying all odds’
Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the Padma Bridge had now become visible, defying all sorts of conspiracies and hurdles, under the prudent and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports BSS.

“Because of the courageous and humanitarian leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has shown the entire world that it also can turn the impossible into the possible,” he said.

Quader, who is also the general secretary of the Awami League, was responding to journalists’ questions after addressing the council session of the Joypurhat district unit of the party.

He took part in the session through videoconferencing from his official residence in Dhaka.

The minister said with domestic funds, the last span of the 6.15-kilometer Padma Bridge, which was a dream for millions of people, was installed on Thursday, leaving the world stunned.
 
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A river, a bridge, a dream taking form and substance
Ali Asif Shawon, Tanjil Hasan from Munshiganj
  • Published at 11:48 am December 10th, 2020
Last span of Padma Bridge

Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

With the installation of its last span, the long-awaited multipurpose bridge is now fully visible
In a historic day for the nation, the long-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge, a lifelong dream for the southern districts of the country, has become fully visible following the installation of its last span.
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (PMBP) authorities installed the 41st and last span of the 6.15km long bridge on Thursday.

PMBP Executive Engineer Dewan Md Abdul Quader confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
According to PMBP officials, the 41st span (2-F) was installed on pillars 12 and 13 at the Mawa end.

More than 81% of the total construction work has been done and 91% of the construction work of the main bridge is complete, officials told Dhaka Tribune.
The bridge, which was funded domestically, will connect the capital with 21 southern districts through road and railways. The first span of the bridge was installed in September 2017. Three years later, the last span has been installed.

Beginning in the morning, a lot of people gathered on the Padma River to watch the installation. However, they had to observe the span installation from a distance as a patrol boat of the Bangladesh Army was patrolling in the area to ensure safety.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, the flags of Bangladesh and China were posted on the last span.
People moved around on the river in small boats and speed boats, took pictures and selfies beside the Padma Bridge. They expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as the premier herself had committed to the construction of the bridge despite negative attitudes from the World Bank and some other big merchant groups on allegations of corruption. The allegations were later found to be not true.

padma-mehedi-1-1607602114193.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, told reporters on Monday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had nipped all conspiracies in the bud by having the Padma Bridge built.

“By installing the last span of the Padma Bridge, Bangladesh has shown the world that we can achieve the impossible. No one can express this feeling in words. We, indeed the entire country, are grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Khalid Mahmud said while on his way to the Padma River to visit the construction site of Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury ferry ghat of Madaripur.

“Bangabandhu taught us how to achieve something. Under his leadership, we got the country, we got independence, sovereignty. Today we got the Padma Bridge through his daughter,” the state minister added.

Also Read- Padma Bridge: Dream becoming a reality against all odds

Al Nahian Khan Joy, president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, visited the Padma River to observe the last span installation process of the bridge along with Chhatra League’s General Secretary Lekhak Bhattachariya and some others.

While talking to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday afternoon, Joy said it was another victory for Bangladesh in the Month of Victory.

“It was done under the leadership of our pride Sheikh Hasina. She made this impossible thing possible in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Joy added.

How much work is still left?
Although the installation of the spans are completed, there is still some work left.

padma-mehedi-1607602195537.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Installation of prefabricated slabs over the spans is also underway to prepare the bridge for traffic. Around 2,917 slabs need to be installed over the spans while 1,333 slabs are already installed.

Similarly, 2,959 railway sleepers are required for the bridge, with 1,942 sleepers already installed.

Prof Shamim Z Bosunia, chairman of the government’s expert panel on the PMBP, said there was still a lot of work to be done after the installation of the spans.

He said: “As far as I know, it will take 22 months to install the railway sleepers, but the contractor has been instructed to do it in two shifts per day in order to finish the work within 11/12 months.

“After the slabs are installed, concrete casting, road division and road marking need to be done simultaneously.”

When will the bridge be opened for traffic?

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was likely be opened to traffic after being completed by June 2022.

unnamed-1607584254929.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

“The Padma Bridge is now a reality. It is physically completed. I think by June 2022, we will open the Padma Bridge for traffic,” he said while speaking at a meeting of the Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance at Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Thursday.

“I am still looking after the project,” he added, mentioning that he had served as secretary of the bridge department for eight years.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said it would take 10-12 months to complete the other remaining works of the Padma Bridge after the installation of the last span.
The Bridges Division projected that the total construction of the bridge would likely reach completion in mid-2022.

Also Read- Overall progress of Padma Bridge rail link project now at 28.23%

The current deadline for the project is June 2021, meaning that the project is likely to see another revision for time extension. The project cost rose to Tk30,193 crore after several revisions.

With the extension of the deadline comes the possibility of an increase in cost. The Bridges Division, however, projected that the cost would not escalate again. As of September 30, Tk23,796.24 had been spent on the project.

The construction of the bridge began in November 2015, with a view to connecting the country's south-western region with the capital via road and rail. Once in service, the 6.15km bridge will connect the capital with 21 south-western districts. It is expected to boost the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.2%.
Obaidul Quader had previously, however, stated that GDP would increase by 1.50%-2% after the completion of the bridge.

The long-anticipated Padma Bridge is expected to change the socioeconomic structure of southern Bangladesh and have a positive effect on the country’s economy.

unnamed-1607584436911.jpg
Engineers install the final span of the 6.15km long Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Thursday morning, December 10, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

It will also connect many countries of South and Southeast Asia and contribute to communication, trade, industry, tourism and many other sectors in various ways.

‘Padma Bridge becomes visible fully defying all odds’
Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the Padma Bridge had now become visible, defying all sorts of conspiracies and hurdles, under the prudent and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports BSS.

“Because of the courageous and humanitarian leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has shown the entire world that it also can turn the impossible into the possible,” he said.

Quader, who is also the general secretary of the Awami League, was responding to journalists’ questions after addressing the council session of the Joypurhat district unit of the party.

He took part in the session through videoconferencing from his official residence in Dhaka.

The minister said with domestic funds, the last span of the 6.15-kilometer Padma Bridge, which was a dream for millions of people, was installed on Thursday, leaving the world stunned.

This is huge and long bridge, so there is train rail way as well below the first level bridge ? Interesting
 
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This is huge and long bridge, so there is train rail way as well below the first level bridge ? Interesting

Yes brother. 2+2 lanes (service lanes on each side as well) for road traffic on upper deck slab and one railway single broad gauge track on bottom level. 7 km plus length with approach roads and rail viaducts.

800px-Querschnitt_Konstruktion_Padma-Br%C3%BCcke.svg.png
 
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Yes brother. 2+2 lanes (service lanes on each side as well) for road traffic on upper deck slab and one railway single broad gauge track on bottom level.

800px-Querschnitt_Konstruktion_Padma-Br%C3%BCcke.svg.png

The other island that the bridge is trying to connect is still relatively empty, any big plan for that island ?? Will it be another residential to support Dhaka or there is plan to make it completely a different new city that is intended for office headquarters ?
 
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The 6.15 km long superstructure of the Padma Multipurpose bridge is now visible after the installation of the last (41st) span earlier today!


Best news from Bangladesh in all of 2020, If I may opine so.


Hopefully, everything proceeds as planned and the bridge is opened for public use by 2022.

June 2022 for completion, I think this bridge is already enough to connect those islands, I saw you have another project using underwater bridge to connect similar lands, maybe that project should be rethinked once again.

Better use the money intended for MRCA for this project and other following project while waiting for KFX/IFX development completion in 2026 for first block (inshaAllah) he he he
 
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The other island that the bridge is trying to connect is still relatively empty, any big plan for that island ?? Will it be another residential to support Dhaka or there is plan to make it completely a different new city that is intended for office headquarters ?

The islands (or chars, please see below) are unstable land areas because the river has shifted course in that area before. This is a large river and banks are well-trained and stabilized now. But industry or office buildings are not planned anywhere near river vicinity, except a military cantonment and missile base (to protect the bridge). 1 inch = 4 km.

shows-the-Padma-Bridge-and-the-Char-Janajat-location-and-char-dwellers-livelihoods.png


The bridge is supposed to connect the 2nd and 3rd ports of Bangladesh (Mongla and Payra) and connect them to Dhaka via road/rail because these ports will be hubs of export/import activity. 1st port is of course Chittagong.

bangladesh.jpg
 
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June 2022 for completion, I think this bridge is already enough to connect those islands, I saw you have another project using underwater bridge to connect similar lands, maybe that project should be rethinked once again.

Better use the money intended for MRCA for this project and other following project while waiting for KFX/IFX development completion in 2026 for first block (inshaAllah) he he he

These are infra projects, I doubt the money will be diverted to buy fighters.

The underwater tunnel you refer to is under the Karnafuli river (more than 400 km away from Padma bridge) and is already more than 60% complete. This will be used to connect Bangladesh 1st port Chittagong to the 4th port Matarbari under construction near Cox's Bazaar.

karnaphuli-tunnel-info.jpg


Map.jpg
 
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The other island that the bridge is trying to connect is still relatively empty, any big plan for that island ?? Will it be another residential to support Dhaka or there is plan to make it completely a different new city that is intended for office headquarters ?



The bridge will help in connecting the lower South West and Greater South (Khulna & Barishal) with Dhaka and the rest of Bangladesh.


The geography is interesting in that some divisions and districts of Bangladesh inhabited at times by millions are actually massive islands created by rivers bisecting them and separating them from the mainland.


While the rest of Bangladesh has rivers, they also have natural crossing points where the water level is low or where the land itself acts as a bridge, this region is unique in that it is completely inaccessible from the mainland unless you use bridges or ferries.


While there are bridges connecting this region to the mainland, they are too few and stretched far apart so getting to the bridges themselves is an inconvenience from another section who didn't live anywhere near the bridge.


That's where this bridge the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, named after the river Padma, comes to play.


This is built right in the middle of high traffic area, where you have just exited Dhaka Division and the distance to the other districts is at its lowest.

Not to mention, it's also a 4+2 lanes and a railway bridge with support for both broad guage and meter guage as well.

The bridge is expected to boost the GDP of Bangladesh by as much as 1.2% although this is a conservative figure, If you ask me.


The price of land in certain parts of the district of Barishal has grown five fold in past year or so, the government is setting up the second Nuclear Power Plant there as well as a deep sea port, Economic Zone and many powerplants as well as improving the overall connectivity within the region itself.

1607742705092.png


All of this is only possible, thanks to these bridges, it's a tool to get local investors to invest in the relatively under developed southern region of Bangladesh.


By the time this bridge is completely operational, the Economy of Bangladesh will be valued at atleast 400 Billion USD (Nominal), so the 1.2% boost would factor out to a 4 billion USD boost and that's even before the new industries kick in.


There is a mini revolution in Bangladesh thanks to this bridge and an entire region home to tens of millions of people, Is only now becoming home to industries in a country where land is scarce.


Normally these districts can only be accessed by far flung bridges or by ferries which sink atleast twice or thrice a year resulting in loss of life, the river Padma, is very very treacherous.


The bridge is also funded with 100% Bangladeshi government funds, in form of loans from local financial institutions, a first in the history of Bangladesh but certainly not the last.


The government and the people have now gained valuable experience in funding projects out of our own coffers.


This may be a 3.3 billion USD bridge but I see the impact in atleast 10 to 15 billion USD being added to the local GDP by 2030 and the upliftment of millions from poverty.



This bridge is the steel and concrete flavoured manifestation of the dream of a strong Bangladesh.
 
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