The Padma Bridge’s construction cost has decreased “due to the adoption of a contractionary policy,” according to Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, who made the announcement last night.
“We are happy to inform that Tk 32,605.52 crore was the most recent estimate for the Padma Bridge project’s cost. After the contractionary policy was implemented, the total cost is now Tk 30,770.14 crore. This indicates that Tk 1,835 crore has been spared,” he stated at a press conference held at the Padma Bridge’s Jajira end’s servicing area 2.
The main bridge contributed Tk 530 crore in savings, river training contributed Tk 80 crore, and access roads and service areas contributed Tk 178 crore. He broke down the savings in this way. He also mentioned saving Tk 244 crore from other expenses, Tk 200 crore from consultation, Tk 103 crore from land acquisition, and Tk 500 crore from price contingencies.
“I made the decision to reduce expenses in the ministries I oversee following instructions I received from the chief adviser. This does not imply that we will work less; rather, it means that we will complete the same tasks for less money, allowing us to launch additional projects within the same funding source, according to Fouzul.
On June 30, this year, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project was finished, marking almost 17 years from the project’s start in August 2007.
After multiple changes, the project’s cost increased to Tk 32,605 crore.
Project director Shafiqul Islam once calculated that a sum of Tk 1,600 crore might not be required, with a projected total project cost of Tk 31,000 crore.
