The government has approved additional Tk 1,400 core funding for the much-hyped 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 to acquire 1,163 hectares of land at a cost of Tk 1,400 core.

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The proposal was placed before meeting of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval. There, it was approved upon mutual consensus.

The cost increased for acquiring lands needed to dump dredging spoil due to river training along the bank of the Padma, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters at a briefing after the meeting.

The increased amount will be added to the total cost of the project when the entire Padma Bridge project will go through revision, the minister said.

Earlier on April 9, the road transport and bridges ministry 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.

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, the DO letter reads.

The district administration later declared the land as private property and that is why it has to be acquired.

As per the last revision in January 2016, total project cost was Tk 28,793 crore.