Padma Bridge is one of the most challenging projects in the world. We are constructing the Bridge on the second largest river flow in the world. Every second, approximately 140,000 cubic metre water flows through the project area. Twenty second flowing of that amount will be sufficient to meet one day drinking water demand of Dhaka city. Another challenge is scour depth. We have also considered earthquake related dangers. That's why we are using the second most powerful pile hammer in the world for this project. River training is another challenge. It requires huge amount of money. Last year there was serious river erosion in the Mawa area, and as a consequence we had to change our design to cope with such types of calamities. It might take more than three years to complete the river training works.

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Padma Bridge Project
The Padma Bridge will open up a whole set of new opportunities for people in the south
west region and the country as a whole "
Some 40 km southwest of the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, several cranes colored in bright
red are operating on a vast river stretching to
the horizon under the scorching sun.
In two years, a multipurpose road-rail bridge
which local residents dub as "a dream come
true" will span over the Padma River to link the
northeast and southwest of Bangladesh. The
6.15-km-long complex, undertaken by a
Chinese company, is the largest and most
challenging infrastructure project in the country's history.
But in this project government faced many problem . Main problem rehabilitation of river
side resident people . But government done a great deal with local resident people .
Another word Padma bridge is a dream of most people in our country .After starting work of
Padma bridge some 4000 families living around the site of the proposed bridge across the
river Padma would have to be relocated at other places for the construction of the bridge .
After 3 years relocated families are stay on rehabilitation center. They are almost happy
their. But some people says they are not proper happy and they have some dissatisfaction.
Main Bridge’s 25 nos. pile has been driven out up to bottom 70m and 19 nos. piles have
been driven out up to 128m. 20,000m steel plate fabrication of Main Bridge’s has been done
(out of 30,000m). 1,25,000 Ton steel plate out of 1,29,000 Ton has already been in site for
pile driving work. Super structure of 3D assembling work is ongoing in both China and
Bangladesh. 04nos. Trusses (150m span) fabrication work is being continued at Mawa
Construction Yard. Already all 08 Nos. Test Pile of Main Bridge has been done out of 08 Nos
and additional test piling of viaduct is ongoing. The work of 150 m wide channel along
alignment of Main Bridge is being continued. At Janjira site 56nos. of Board piling work of
Viaduct has been done and construction of pile cap is ongoing. Transition pier’s 4 nos. Bored
pile with 3m dia has been done and load testing of service pile is going on.
Financing
Project cost is estimated to be US$3.00 billion. The Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB)
project was designed to be funded by donors such as the World Bank, Japan International

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Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Islamic Development Bank
(IDB). After a scandal of alleged corruption by some people associated with project
preparation the World Bank withdrew its commitment and other donors followed. The
project is now being funded from own resources of the Government of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) invited the pre-qualification tender for the project in
April 2010. Construction of the bridge was expected to commence by early 2011 and be
ready for major completion in 2013 (and complete all sections by late 2015). The proposed
Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project will provide direct connectivity between the central and
southwestern part of the country through a fixed link on the Padma River at Mawa-Janjira
points. The bridge will contribute significantly towards facilitating the social, economic and
industrial development of this relatively underdeveloped region with a population of over
30 million. The area of influence of the direct benefit of the project is about 44,000 km2 or
29% of the total area of Bangladesh. Therefore, the project is viewed as very important
infrastructure towards improving the transportation network and regional economic
development of the country. The bridge has provisions for rail, gas, electric line and fibre
optic cable for future expansion. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority is the executing agency of
the project.
On 17 June 2014,An important progress has been made in construction of Padma Bridge. A
construction firm, China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd has been selected to
construct the long aspired bridge on the river Padma.The 6.15 km bridge, costing an
estimated Tk 91.72 billion, will connect 21 southern districts with the capital.This mega
project would be completed by the end of 2018. A work order for river management issued
in August 2014.
China proposed building the bridge on the build-own-transfer (BOT) basis by investing $2
billion or 70 percent of the project cost. Four companies - China Major Bridge Engineering
Company, Daelim-L&T JV and Samsung C&T Corporation - purchased the tender papers. But
only the Chinese company submitted their financial proposal on 24 April 2014.
The state-owned company has constructed structures like the famous 36 km Hangzhou Bay
Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world. Padma Bridge, when commissioned,
will boost the GDP by as much as 1.2 percent.
Ministry
Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project.Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Bridges
Division, Bangladesh Bridge Authority. Now a days The Project Progress : 40.50% . From the
beginning the Padma bridge negotiation has been involved in controversy and conspiracy.
The World Bank stated that they found, "credible evidence corroborated by a variety of
sources which points to a high-level corruption conspiracy among Bangladeshi government
officials, SNC-Lavalin executives, and private individuals in connection with the Padma

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Multipurpose Bridge Project.As a result of the corruption, the World Bank initially refused to
sanction the proposed loan for constructing the bridge and imposed conditions for the
continuation of loan talks with the government. In accordance with one of these conditions
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain had to resign, as he was found to be involved
in the corruption.Now Mr. Obaidul Quader, Ministry of Road Transport & Bridges
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Expertise of Project
Expertise of Project
1. Main Bridge
2. River Training Works(RTW)
3. Janjira Approach Road & Selected Bridge End Facilities
4. Mawa Approach Road & Selected Bridge End Facilities
5. Service Area-2
6. Resettlement
7. Environment
8. Land Acquisition
9. CSC(Main Bridge & RTW)
10.CSC(Approach Roads & Service Area-2)
11.Engineering Support & Safety Team(ESST)
Main Bridge (6.15 km long): Contractor : China Major Bridge Engineering Co. Ltd, China.
Contract Period : 4 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT: 12,133.39
crore. Date of work order : 26 November 2014. Date of Completion : . Physical Progress of
Work : Mobilization of equipments & procurement of materials as well as preparatory works
such as geotechnical investigation, survey, steel fabrication of test pile, dredging and
Contractor’s accommodation, stack yard, casting yard etc. construction are going on.
River Training Works(14 km length): Contractor : Sinohydro Corporation Limited, China.
Contract Period : 4 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT: 8707.81 crore.
Date of work order : 31 December 2014. Date of Completion : . Physical Progress of Work :
Handed over land to Contractor, Mobilization of equipments & procurement of materials as
well as Contractor’s accommodation, stack yard, casting yard etc. construction are going on.
Janjira Approach Road & Selected Bridge End Facilities (10.5 km length): Contractor : AML-
HCM JV. Contract Period : 3 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT:
1097.40 crore. Date of work order : 8 October 2013. Physical Progress of Work : 29.10%.
Mawa Approach Road & Selected Bridge End Facilities (1.5 km length): Contractor : AML-
HCM JV. Contract Period : 2.5 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT:
193.40 crore. Date of work order : 27 January 2014 Physical Progress of Work : 21.5%.
Service Area-2: Contractor : Abdul Monem Ltd. Contract Period : 2.5 years+1year (defect
liability period). Contract Cost : BDT: 208.71 crore. Date of work order : 12 January 2014
Physical Progress of Work : 12%.

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Resettlement: Total Additional Grant Paid to the PAP : BDT: 500.71 crore(up to 31
December 2014). Total no. of plots : 2698 No. of residential plots : 2618 No. of commercial
plots : 80 977 plots have been handed over to the PAP out of approved 1045 plots(up to
31/12/2014).
Environment: Tree plantation has been started from 2012 and 55150 nos. of tree plantation
has been completed up to-date.
Land Acquisition: Land has been acquired 1408.54 hectre.
CSC (Main Bridge & RTW): Consultant : Korea Expressway Corporation, South Korea &
Associates. Contract Period : 4 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT:
383.15 crore. Date of Signing Contract : 3 November 2014. Progress of Work : Deployment
of manpower as well as supervision of works are going on.
CSC (Approach Road & Service Area): Consultant : Special Works Organization(SWO-
West), Bangladesh Army in association with BRTC, Bangladesh University of Engineering and
Technology. Contract Period : 3 years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT:
133.49 crore. Date of Work Order : 13 October 2013. Progress of Work : 40%.
Engineering Support & Safety Team(ESST): ESST : Bangladesh Army. Contract Period : 4
years+1year (defect liability period). Contract Cost : BDT: 72.14 crore. Date of Work Order :
13 October 2013 Progress of Work : 40%
Impacts on Society
It will be capable as a gainer of generally people in our economical society.Because it has
created a greatest oppurtunity for inter communication with other areas of our country.It
will save the wasting time of people.People will be able to connect easily with their peer.It
will save their valuable time.As we know journey by bus or car is easier then train or ship.In
business perspective, industrial and agriculture products are so much benificial for digital
market.Basically many products creat in Dhaka.For transferring these products to rural area,
the bridge is needed urgently. It will also help people for making interpersonal
relationship.People will be able to move easily to there perspective place... if we want to see
a digital communication system,the bridge is most important,it can be a part of this.Overall

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the bridge is basically needed for a sustainable communication.
After 3 years relocated families are stay on rehabilitation center. They are almost happy
their. But some people says they are not proper happy and they have some dissatisfaction.
SahadatHossen, a resident of rehabilitation site no 1 at Kumarbhog , would be one of those
who would have to leave his ancestral home.But he said he would be happy to vacate his
land for building the bridge in national interest.
60 years old SiddikBepari said, they can’t live their life like before they have. Cause they
don’t have any chance to earn money by farming cow and sell milk. He also said, many
people are not given their proper land like before but they give much more money from
land price.
He said the bridge is constructed for the people of southern region would be benefited.
"That's why we have no objection. But I missed my ancestral land.
Bandu Sheikh, an 80-year-old farmer , said he is neither affected nor benefitted from the
Padma bridge project. “This bridge has generated a lot of hope among the people. But we
don’t know what we in our area will gain. I have many agricultural land (which will
undertake projects) and a pond beside house. But I did not get any money for this ,” he said
Rehabilitation site of Kumarbhog , 450 plots their and all are distributed in 450 families.
Meanwhile, above 1,331 plots have already been distributed to families affected by the
construction mega-project. More than some 2,592 plots will be distributed under the Padma
Bridge rehabilitation program. Another 362 plots have been distributed among landless
peasants. Another rehabilitation site are not big like Kumarbhog. Beside of Kumarbhog
rehabilitation site have another small site.
For all of this rehabilitation site people have hospital, school etc. but this are not prepared
for giving service. They have a school building to educate their child but school program are
not start for this reason their child going school far from their home. And they have also a
hospital building but they don’t have any permanent doctor.

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The people of both the sides of the Padma are more or less appreciative of the road
connectivity the bridge over the mighty river would establish between Dhaka and 21
districts.But those in the immediate vicinity are not sure how the bridge, once built and
made operational, would create opportunities for them and improve their economic status.
Economic Aspect
By facilitating transportation across the river, the Padma Bridge is expected lead to the
greater integration of regional markets within the Bangladeshi national economy. On the
basis of their suitability of capture primary and secondary economic impacts of construction
project, three different types of economy wide models are employed in addition to
traditional traffic model to capture the total and economy wide impacts of Padma Bridge.
Although outcomes of all types of models are positive, the results show variations due to
especially to size of shocks. The results are summarized below. In the Traffic model, road
users benefits are estimated based on the saving on vehicle operation costs (VOC) and
savings in travel time cost (TTC). Total road user benefit is estimated to be about million
1,295,840 taka over the 31 year period. Out of the total cost of the project ($2.9 billion), it
was estimated that about $2.1 billion would be injected into the economy and the rest
consists of imports, IDC etc. Injection of $2.1 billion into the economy using national SAM
model envisaged value added increase of 453,670 million taka. This increase implies that
annualized equivalent rate for national GDP would be 0.33 percent compared to the
national base GDP (i.e. 4,468,549 million taka). Annual equivalent rates of growth were
calculated keeping in view the 31 years as the time taken to fully realize the impact of the
bridge. If we took a shorter time horizon for fully realizing the benefit of growth, then the
annual equivalent rates could be larger. On the other hand, injection of $2.1 billion into the
regional economy using the regional SAM model envisaged that annualized equivalent rate
for regional GDP would be 2.3 percent compared to the regional base GDP. However, if it
assumed that only 70 percent of the shock would be operative in the region (against full 100
percent or $2.1 billion), the annualized equivalent rate for regional GDP would be roughly
1.66 percent of the regional base GDP. Given that the SAM model assume excess capacity
(which may be a reasonable assumption in a country like Bangladesh with under-utilized
resources), the size of impacts vary with the size of injection or shock. Using the Traffic
mode, road users benefit is found to be million 1,295,840 taka. We consider value added
increase of million 453,670 taka derived from the national SAM model (i.e. simulation 1A) as
economy wide benefits of the project. Thus, total project benefit is estimated to be
1,749,510 million taka (i.e. Total (1,749,510) = Road User Benefit (=1,295,840) + WEB
(=453,670). This implies that total project benefit is 39 percent relative to the base national
income (i.e. 4,468,549). Assuming the 31 year full realization timeframe, total project
benefits per year is then 1.26 percent relative to the base national income. The base GDP
figure would change over 31 years. Assuming 5 percent GDP growth over the 31 period an

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alternative estimate of base year is arrived. The total project benefit (i.e. 1,749,510) is only
0.56 percent relative to the alternative base national income (average GDP during that
period).
Conclusions
Around 39% construction work of the 6.15-kilometre-long two-tier Padma Multipurpose
Bridge has been completed.The China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation (MBEC), which
was appointed for the main bridge, will carry out the work. The soil testing and dredging
works have been going on for the last four months for the river training.The bridge will have
a total of 42 pillars. Each will have six piles beneath. Steel spans will be placed on the pillars.
The bridge will have a total of 41 spans.Work on the Padma Bridge is broadly divided into
five parts—the main bridge, river training, two link roads and infrastructure (service area)
construction. China's Sinohydro Corporation was appointed for the river training works
while Bangladesh's Abdul Monem Limited was given the contract for the two link roads and
infrastructure construction.When Padma Bridge will be completed, this impect will develop
our sosal life and our economic devolopment.
Work start date according to work plan: November 2014 .
Work end date according to work plan: November 2018