Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) today inked a Tk 169 crore deal with four international and local consultancy firms for Management Support Consultancy (MSC) service for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.

Padma Bridge Project Director Eng Md Shafiqul Islam and Vardaman Jones, director of High Point Rendel, UK, on behalf of the four companies, signed the deal at the Setu Bhaban in the capital in presence of Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

During this four-year deal the firms will supervise the construction works of the main bridge, river training works for both the Janjira and Mawa approach roads, service area-2, rehabilitation centers and the assess the environmental impacts. They will also review reports on different issues of the project and give necessary recommendations to the project director.

A total of 30 companies showed interest for the MSC Techincal evaluation committee headed by Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury but only five companies were short listed and among them two firms became technically responsive.

Moreover, BBA also signed a Tk 16.22 crore deal with a four-joint venture consultancy firms for conducting the feasibility study to construct 35km Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway and 80km East-West Elevated Expressway.

BBA's Chief Engineer Kabir Ahmed and Regional Manager for South Asia-2 of SMEC International Pty Ltd, Australia Mohiuddin Mahmud signed the deals on behalf of their respective organisations.

Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway will start from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to EPZ via Nabinagar while East-West Elevated Expressway will start from Hemayetpur on Dhaka-Aricha highway to Madanpur on Dhaka-Chittagong highway vial Keraniganj and Fatullah.