Abrar Hussain: The government has approved an additional Tk 1,400 core funding for the Padma Bridge project, taking the total project cost to Tk 30,193 crore.
The Bridges Division, the implementing authority of the project, had sent a proposal to the planning ministry before a meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval in order to acquire 1,163 hectares of land at a cost of Tk 1,400 core. Upon mutual consensus, it was approved.
after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters that the cost increased for acquiring lands needed to dump dredging spoil due to river training along the bank of the Padma, reports The Daily Star.
The minister also said the increased amount will be added to the total cost of the project when the entire Padma Bridge project will go through revision.
On April 9, the road transport and bridges ministry had sent a DO (demand order) letter to the planning ministry, detailing the revision proposal. As per the letter, around 212 crore cubic feet dredging spoil has to be dumped due to river training along the bank of the Padma. The char area of the river is suitable for disposing of the spoil in an environment-friendly way.
According to the DO, although chars were picked as a suitable place for dumping when the design of the bridge was prepared, the cost of the char land was not included in DPP considering the land as khas land.
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