Massive road-rail work to follow

Massive development work of road and rail infrastructure is underway to optimise benefits of the Padma bridge, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

New railroads, additional roads and a flyover would be built before the 6.15km bridge opens to traffic in December 2018.

"Infrastructure development centring the Padma bridge is our next priority," Quader said in an interview with The Daily Star on the eve of the inauguration of piling work of the main bridge by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

The existing two-lane Dhaka-Mawa and Janjira-Bhanga roads would be expanded to four lanes for smooth traffic. "We don't need to acquire land for this."

A 13.32km flyover from the capital's Shantinagar to Dhaka-Mawa road via Babubazar bridge would be built at a cost of Tk 2,670 crore to ensure smooth passage of vehicles to and from the capital.

At the same time, a 76.17km railroad on both sides of the Padma has also been planned to boost connectivity in the region, said Quader.

The road transport minister said Bangladesh Army has already been given the job of four-laning 55km stretches of Babubazar-Postagola-Mawa and Janjira-Bhanga roads by June 2019. The project would cost around Tk 5,000 crore. The Dhaka-Chittagong highway would also be connected with Dhaka-Mawa road through a four-lane road.

"The Bhanga-Benapole road via Kalna and the Bhanga-Kuakata road via Lebukhali of Patuakhali would also be expanded to develop road infrastructure in the southern region," said Quader, adding that the proposed Paira deep seaport in Patuakhali will also reap the benefits of the bridge.

Expansion work of the 135km Bhanga-Benapole and the 241km Bhanga-Kuakata roads will begin in July next year. The first project involving Tk 7,273 crore is scheduled to end in July 2020 and the second one involving Tk 9,800 crore in 2021.

REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

The minister believes the Padma bridge, once in operation, will contribute to the country's socio-economic development by boosting regional connectivity.

As part of the proposed Asian Highway Network, the bridge will facilitate transit with India.

"Our interests will be prioritised in giving transit facilities to India. We cannot live in isolation. But we won't harm the country's interests for friendship with others," said the minister.

FUTURE PLAN

To give tourism a boost, a modern city modelled after Hong Kong would be built on the banks of the Padma near the bridge, he said.

There's also a plan to build an international airport there, he mentioned.

"A cantonment is being setting up while the 99 Composite Brigade of Bangladesh Army has already been shifted there."

AGAINST ALL ODDS

The project faced numerous obstacles, conspiracies and other challenges from the very beginning, but all odds could be overcome due to the full support of the prime minister, said Quader.

"All credits go to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her determination, commitment and courage in taking the decision to construct the bridge with self-financing."

"Had the prime minister not remained firm on her commitment, construction of the Padma bridge would not have been possible," he says.

"Eviction of the local people and land acquisition on both sides of the Padma was the toughest challenge at the beginning. And I had to visit Mawa and Janjira many times for this."

The road transport minister says he has visited Mawa 135 times and Janjira 66 times since the project started in 2012.

"I am grateful to all the people who gave away their ancestral land and homes in the country's interests."

Even the tendering process was not easy either, he continues.

"Some showed interests and some refused to proceed with the project after the World Bank cancelled its loan agreement. Our senior and junior colleagues in the cabinet too had doubts as to whether we would be able to construct the bridge with our own funds."

Planning the river training was the most crucial job, Quader says.

"To my knowledge, there are two unpredictable rives in the world. One is the Amazon and the other is the Padma. The details of the river training have been worked out after extensive studies on the Padma's behavioural pattern."

PREVENTING CORRUPTION

Corruption was always a concern in implementing such a mega project, especially after the WB withdrew from the project on graft allegations.

Quader, however, said they maintained 100 percent transparency so far.

"We have adopted 'zero-tolerance' policy on corruption. Since the project director, my secretary and I are fully transparent, there will be no room for corruption. I have made this clear."

Although the WB's corruption allegations proved false, "it made us extra careful," he says.

He faced tremendous pressure from influential people, ministers, lawmakers and party leaders to award them contracts related to the project, Quader claimed.

"There was huge pressure on me even from my district to recruit workers in the project. But I did not compromise on a single occasion. My leader [Hasina] has given me full protection."

"If any influential person wants any contract, she [Hasina] has told me to send them to her," said the minister.

Besides, a technical evaluation committee headed by Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury is strictly monitoring the expenses.

Quader also praised the army's role in the project. "Had the army not been there, going ahead with such a huge task would not have been easy."