If feasible, Meghna bridge at Shariatpur-Chandpur point to link 21 districts

[rainbowrascal]

The fieldwork will be completed by August and all the reports will be submitted to the ministry in December.

The government has already partially completed the feasibility study at the Shariatpur-Chandpur point of the Meghna River to construct a bridge which would facilitate road communications from the Chattogram division to Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet.

Currently, the contractor companies are carrying out underground soil tests, morphology and hydrology tests in 12 sites of the river in that area.

The reports would be submitted to the ministry next December and the government will decide on the length and possible cost of the bridge following that.

According to Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) sources, vehicles from 21 districts in the southwest areas of the country cross the Meghna River through the Chandpur-Shariatpur naval route to 11 districts in Chattogram. For this, they have to use ferries in Narsinghpur of Shariatpur and Harina of Chandpur. The naval route was inaugurated in 2001 by the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Since then, cargo vehicles from land ports in Benapole, Bhomra and seaports in Mongla and Payra have been operating on this route to different districts of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Because of this route, the vehicles do not have to get stuck in the traffic congestion of Dhaka, and the distance has been reduced by at least 60-70 km.

However, the government has planned to construct the bridge on this route to further facilitate communication. For this, a feasibility study project at a cost of Tk243 crore was undertaken in June last year. Three companies, Doha from South Korea, Tipsha from Spain and Nippon Koyei, have been appointed to conduct the feasibility studies. The companies started their feasibility studies at the field level in January this year, as per BBA sources.

Abdul Momen, dock manager of BIWTC at Narsinghpur ferry terminal, said, "The Shariatpur-Chandpur route is a very important ferry terminal. More than 600 vehicles cross this route every day. The ferries of this route are small, old and slow, otherwise, the number of vehicles would surpass 1,000 per day."

"The cargo vehicles have to wait at the dock for hours for ferries and many times the raw materials they carry get rotten given the delay. This problem would be solved if the bridge is constructed," he added.

Local MP (Shariatpur-2) and Deputy Minister for Water Resources Enamul Haque Shamim told The Business Standard, "The 21 districts in the south and south-west of the country have a lot of economic importance. But trade and commerce in the region are facing obstacles due to a lack of road communication. We are trying to build a communication network linking the country with this region."

"There are four important ports of the country in this region. The government has started the preliminary work of constructing the bridge keeping all these in mind. I hope the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Meghna Bridge within this term of the government," he added.

Md Liaquat Ali, director of the Feasibility Study Project, said, "The feasibility study of the Meghna Bridge is being carried out step by step. Part of the study has already been completed. The fieldwork will be completed by August and all the reports will be submitted to the ministry in December. Then the land acquisition plan, resettlement plan and the alignment of the bridge will be determined."

Huge L if they don't consider rail services in the bridge

 

[Bilal9]

I don't think these people have their heads screwed on right.

A bridge in that area (in summer about ten miles from shore to shore) is a near non-feasible idea, and even impossible.

Take a look,

 

[rainbowrascal]

I don't think these people have their heads screwed on right.

A bridge in that area (in summer about ten miles from shore to shore) is a near non-feasible idea, and even impossible.

Take a look,

Non feasible in terms of what? Cost or the water will wash away the bridge...

 

[Destranator]

I don't think these people have their heads screwed on right.

A bridge in that area (in summer about ten miles from shore to shore) is a near non-feasible idea, and even impossible.

Take a look,

Chadpur Marine Corps should dial it down a notch.

On a serious note: Meghna tunnel anyone?

 

[Bilal9]

Non feasible in terms of what? Cost or the water will wash away the bridge...

Commercial return from toll collection will never pay for the building cost for the bridge (and corruption graft cost added).

The width of the Meghna is too wide near Chandpur (dozens of miles), bridge will cost scores of Billions of dollars and does not warrant the savings in road-cargo miles carried over bridges or tunnels.

Already Padma bridge footer pilings were world's deepest at 120 metres. Allah knows how deep they will be on the Meghna. The water flow is also very fast in the monsoon season, probably faster than the Amazon. Bridges will not last in the area.

Meghna carries the third most amount of drainage water discharged globally, around 40,000 cubic-meters per second.

List of rivers by discharge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Building a tunnel under the river will be even more expensive and non-feasible.

This has been thought of for hundreds of years - just look at the geophysics of the area. Total madness.

One can build bridges upriver in Padma near Mawa (already done) or tunnels near Paturia Ghat (planned) - but there are limits to building castles in the sky. There is also a Korean bridge planned to connect NarayanGanj with BrahmanBaria.

The only reason they are even studying feasibility for this is to steal money. Feasibility studies for this will cost hundreds of crores and all will go to Obaidul Quader's pocket (some to Hasina).

Total scumbags.

 

[Bilal9]

Chadpur Marine Corps should dial it down a notch.

On a serious note: Meghna tunnel anyone?

Tunnels are way more expensive than bridges. This will be as expensive as the Chunnel in the UK, though only half the length at around 15KM (probably in the $12~18 Billion range in today's dollars). Compare that to Padma Bridge cost which is around $4 Billion or so. The chunnel hardly even makes money. Pointless.

There is almost no possible reason to build the bridge near Chandpur as there are plenty of sea ports near Barisal/Patuakhali as well as the one in Mongla, which are all severely under-utilized.

There are river ports in Shariatpur area as well which can be converted to container and commercial port easily to connect with Chittagong for commercial and industrial traffic. Bangladesh should utilize marine container traffic which is a lot cheaper anyway, compared to road or rail traffic. The rivers are ideal ways to transport heavy items - these are Allah's blessings for Bangladesh.

The Meghna river is a lot less wide upstream near Bhulta, Araihazar (N'Ganj) and Banchharampur area, where a Korean bridge is already planned. River crossings need to be feasible and profitable, not pie-in-the-sky schemes. You can see what constitutes a feasibility study (Shamiksha).

Korea keen to build another bridge over Meghna

Korea has shown interest in constructing another bridge over the River Meghna connecting Bhulta-Araihazar of Dhaka with Banchharampur of Chattogram under the modality of government-to-government public-private partnership. A proposal put forward by Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company Limit

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh, Korea set to build bridge on Meghna River

Bangladesh, Korea set to build bridge on Meghna River

www.daily-sun.com

 

[rainbowrascal]

Commercial return from toll collection will never pay for the building cost for the bridge (and corruption graft cost added).

That will be revealed in the feasibility study report. But the chances of failure is slim.

The width of the Meghna is too long near Chandpur (dozens of miles), bridge will cost Hundreds of Billions of dollars and does not warrant the savings in cargo miles.

No the width in shariatpur-chandpur point is approximately 3.5km (2.2miles)

I have no idea where you got the "dozens of miles". Max width of meghna is around 13km.

Unless SARCASM

This bridge can be done in 2-3bn usd. Maybe even less. Minus the corruption of course

Although I would say meghna might be deeper than padma, but it will vary from point to point

 

[Bilal9]

That will be revealed in the feasibility study report. But the chances of failure is slim.

No the width in shariatpur-chandpur point is approximately 3.5km (2.2miles)
View attachment 847815
I have no idea where you got the "dozens of miles". Max width of meghna is around 13km.

Unless SARCASM

No..bridges don't cost  hundreds of Billions dollars. This bridge can be done in 2-3bn usd. Maybe even less. Minus the corruption of course

Although I would say meghna might be deeper than padma, but it will vary from point to point

I miscalculated the amount. Padma bridge officially cost $4 Billion, but Meghna bridge if built will easily cost $12 Billion. This cost will not be feasible for the road traffic now passing in between Shariatpur and Chandpur.

Bridge cost will go up because you cannot sink piles in soft soil under the river. has to be a huge suspension bridge which will be way costlier than the $12 Billion, probably closer to $20 Billion.

The only reason Bangladesh will be doing this is to ease traffic between Kolkata and Tripura via transit, Thank you Hasina for doing Bhartiya chamcha-giri on Bangladeshi tax-payer's dime.

If people are proposing this with Bangladesh flags - I will consider them as false flagger Indians.

If Indians are so keen on this, let them fund at least half the cost. Meaning "fund" not loan.

Nothing in it for us in Bangladesh - zero, zilch, nada. Tripura should stay dependent on us economically as a backwater and not get connected to rest of India ON OUR MONEY.

Harami India-shills in Bangladesh govt. watching Modi's interests not ours.

 

[bluesky]

The only reason they are even studying feasibility for this is to steal money. Feasibility studies for this will cost hundreds of crores and all will go to Obaidul Quader's pocket (some to Hasina).

Total scumbags.

This is how this govt (or any other govt) develops a poor country like Bangladesh, by stealing its money on feasibility studies and hollow up the country deep so that it cannot stand on its own feet ever.

However, technology wise it is possible to build a Chandpur-Shariatpur bridge only if the soil is not weak. Turbulence is not a deciding factor.

I wish our people will not select a route where the Meghna depth is 300 meters.

Do you remember you had pointed out the depth in another thread a few months before? I checked it in the internet and was very surprised to see it is correct.

 

[Bilal9]

This is how this govt (or any other govt) develops a poor country like Bangladesh, by stealing its money on feasibility studies and hollow up the country deep so that it cannot stand on its own feet ever.

However, technology wise it is possible to build a Chandpur-Shariatpur bridge only if the soil is not weak. Turbulence is not a deciding factor.

I wish our people will not select a route where the Meghna depth is 300 meters.

Do you remember you had pointed out the depth in another thread a few months before? I checked it in the internet and was very surprised to see it is correct.

Thanks @bluesky bhai.

I don't know the current scouring level and depth of the Meghna river at Chandpur area. However there is absolutely no reason to believe that the drainage amount is any less than that of the Padma river at Mawa-Jazira area where the Padma river was built. If I was to make a guess, the CUSEC water drainage amount will be no less than 1.5 to 2 times that near the Padma Bridge.

Downstream where the confluence of Meghna and Padma are, the common people call it "Sea of Meghna" - as the river's force of water, wave turbulence and wave height can be compared to some deep sea situations. The videos I posted above are proof enough.

It is my general belief looking at the area and knowing about the history of erosion in Chandpur along the banks by the Meghna - that massive groyne areas will be necessary to establish two massive columns on both banks to hold up a suspension bridge structure - like that which was built over the Dardanelles strait near Istanbul.

This is unfortunately the only way a bridge can be built over the Meghna - Padma bridge style piling will be impossible to do in a Chandpur situation because depth of Meghna river will be way higher than that of the Padma and base rock will be at least 2 KM down from the river bottom, making piling too expensive a proposition.

A suspension bridge cannot be cheap either, and will be way more than the cheap $4 Billion that was spent on the Padma Bridge. I figured close to $8-$10 Billion at the very least, counting the massive Awami League corruption. Padma Bridge was supposed to cost $2 Billion but cost double that amount - Thank You Hasina. The suspension bridge in Turkey above cost $2 Billion in Turkey, but it will cost at least $8 Billion in Bangladesh, given the corruption.

So then the question arises, looking at the "need" for such a bridge (in the unnecessary Sri-lanka style project dept.), the only reason for this bridge is to connect Agartala with Kolkata. This is being pushed by Indians.

It's fine that Kolkata business folks want to have easy cargo transit to Agartala, but they must fund this - why do we have to spend this money ourselves and give away everything (including transit) free to foreigners (i.e. Hindutva supporter Indian Banyas)??

Adanis and Ambanis are already making money hand over fist in Bangladesh over the backs of our innocent people. I posted in another thread that Adani supplies over 17000 tons oof edible oil to Bangladesh every year.

Who wants to guess and bet with me how much of that edible oil is adulterated? We are letting these Hindutva Banya scumbags control our food sources !! Modi and his friends have our nuts in a SLING !!

When does this greed ever end? When do Indian Banyas and govt. people stop manipulating India shills like corrupt Hasina and Obadiul Quader and keep asking for more, more and more?

 

[bluesky]

t is my general belief looking at the area and knowing about the history of erosion in Chandpur along the banks by the Meghna - that massive groyne areas will be necessary to establish two massive columns on both banks to hold up a suspension bridge structure - like that which was built over the Dardanelles strait near Istanbul.

One little correction. The picture you have posted is of a cable-stayed Bridge and not a suspension bridge.

Please note also that if the soil bed is weak, you cannot possibly build either a suspension bridge or a cable-stayed bridge. Because the spans will be longer and the longer a bridge span, the more the Piers have to take loads.

Normal truss bridge will be better because the center-center distance is shorter making the imposed loads lower. It is the same as the Padma bridge. It is essentially a truss bridge with many short spans.

 

[Bilal9]

View attachment 848062

One little correction. The picture you have posted is of a cable-stayed Bridge and not a suspension bridge.

Please note also that if the soil bed is weak, you cannot possibly build either a suspension bridge or a cable-stayed bridge. Because the spans will be longer and the longer a bridge span, the more the Piers have to take loads.

Normal truss bridge will be better because the center-center distance is shorter making the imposed loads lower. It is the same as the Padma bridge. It is essentially a truss bridge with many short spans.

Thank you @bluesky bhai. I am no civil engineer of course. I stand corrected....

 

[bluesky]

Thank you @bluesky bhai. I am no civil engineer of course. I stand corrected....

Please read the map. There is Palong. It is the center of Shariatpur. On the other side of the river, it is Chandpur which I visited many times whe Steamer ships were frequenting Goalondo-Chandpur route.

Note that Palong people can easily use the new Padma Bridge. The same is true for Chandpur people. But, they need a direct road to Mawa.

In my opinion, instead of this bridge a bridge can be built over Bhola to connect east and west of Meghna. This bridge will give shorter access to Chittagong for people living in all the SW Bangladesh. Even there is a proposal to build a bridge to connect Bhola with Barisal. So, if the other half is built, the distance to Chittagong will be greatly reduced.

 

[bluesky]

Bridge cost will go up because you cannot sink piles in soft soil under the river. has to be a huge suspension bridge which will be way costlier than the $12 Billion, probably closer to $20 Billion.

However, suspension bridge will be more difficult to build on piles embedded into the soft soil/ silt. The spans are longer means more loads on each Pier.

So, instead of limited number of piers needed to build a suspension or cable stayed bridge, a bridge in the soft soil needs many more piers that distributes the vertical loads. If the soil is really weak, even a truss bridge is not feasible.

Shorter spans are needed and the bridge may be basically a Composite Steel Girder type. Except that a few spans at the center need truss or suspension bridge.

 

[Destranator]

Tunnels are way more expensive than bridges. This will be as expensive as the Chunnel in the UK, though only half the length at around 15KM (probably in the $12~18 Billion range in today's dollars). Compare that to Padma Bridge cost which is around $4 Billion or so. The chunnel hardly even makes money. Pointless.

There is almost no possible reason to build the bridge near Chandpur as there are plenty of sea ports near Barisal/Patuakhali as well as the one in Mongla, which are all severely under-utilized.

There are river ports in Shariatpur area as well which can be converted to container and commercial port easily to connect with Chittagong for commercial and industrial traffic. Bangladesh should utilize marine container traffic which is a lot cheaper anyway, compared to road or rail traffic. The rivers are ideal ways to transport heavy items - these are Allah's blessings for Bangladesh.

The Meghna river is a lot less wide upstream near Bhulta, Araihazar (N'Ganj) and Banchharampur area, where a Korean bridge is already planned. River crossings need to be feasible and profitable, not pie-in-the-sky schemes. You can see what constitutes a feasibility study (Shamiksha).

Korea keen to build another bridge over Meghna

Korea has shown interest in constructing another bridge over the River Meghna connecting Bhulta-Araihazar of Dhaka with Banchharampur of Chattogram under the modality of government-to-government public-private partnership. A proposal put forward by Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company Limit

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh, Korea set to build bridge on Meghna River

Bangladesh, Korea set to build bridge on Meghna River

www.daily-sun.com

9 km Karnafuli tunnel is only costing $1.1 billion. I doubt tunnels across Meghna would cost much more. Tunnels are less of a headache as they don't affect river navigation and are more resistant to seismic events.
Honestly, we should think long term and procure a few tunnel boaring machines and slowly build tunnel after tunnel across rivers with our own funding.

We should not measure return investment purely based on potential toll collection but also consider the economic benefit from increased and faster communication between districts. The mere thought of ferry rides discourages people from travelling today. People should be able to take the road across any river.