The Mighty Padma is one of the major Rivers in Bangladesh which is flowing about 120 kilometres before merging with Meghna near the Bay of Bengal. The water source of the river is Himalayas and it discharged on average 35000 m³/s per year, during monsoon due to erosion about 660 square kilometers land lost since 1966 and continued.
Yesterday I was visiting the beautiful and aggressive River Padma. I am writing this not regarding the river but the Bridge being constructing on the river.
The Padma bridge will be one of the longest bridge of the world. After completing the constitution the base will be the 20th longest of the world as per data. This is a multi purpose bridge and the main construction material is still where there will be two Level where upper level will be constructed for four lane highway and the lower level for single track railway. This 6.15 Kilometers Bridge will increase the national GDP and will help millions of people living both side of the river.
I had a good chance to visit the Bridge area by a Speedboat! Everything is going on plan; looks like. There are huge steel frames already on the pillars and this design of the Bridge known as "Truss Bridge".
This will be the final look of 22 meter wide upper deck including shoulder and single track duel gauge railway at the lower deck!
My plan was to find the actual scenario and the work process & progress so, visited both River and Highway. There are hundreds of people working each day in different sections to make sure the grand opening in mid 2021.
There are connecting road being made on the both side of the Bridge and this is a very big project.
This Bridge not only improve the communication & transportation for the country but also it will help to connect Gas, Electricity and other fiber lines for the other side of the river (Faridpur, Madaripur District). By this connection and communication process Barishal Division will be benefited along other decision. I'm mentioning Barishal division as there is a new Sea Port and Cantonment just started to serve the country. Besides millions of people might stop to come to the Capital to search work to live.
During visiting I've found about hundred of overpass, road bridge, calvert, stations are being constructed on the both side of the River and few of them are huge. In my observation this mega project just introduced few more projects in it.
Bus Stop Constructed near each major location.
Beautiful Mosque and Other Structures being constructed on the both side of the newly constructed highway.
Although there is a railway in the project but it is not visible yet. Hopefully rail road will be visible by end of the 2020. Railway would change the total scenario of communication between the Capital and the South zone of the country.
Soon people of Bangladesh will start to get huge benefits from this project. Already west side of the river connection road completed more than 80% and people are getting benefits.
Although the starting was not easy for the construction company as they were unable to find the way to install few span but now they find the way for this first fixed River crossing for road traffic of Bangladesh.
This superstructure will be the pillar of brighter future of the nation. Currently there are several ferry, engine boat and speed boat carrying passengers and goods which is time consuming and costly and within couple of years it will change with the opening of the Bridge.
Thanks Everybody !