Bangladesh signs MoU with Korea to maintain Padma bridge

Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) for the operation and maintenance of the country’s ever-biggest river bridge, Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB).

The MoU was signed at Setu Bhaban in the capital city Dhaka in presence of Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today morning.

Rezaul Haider, director (admin) of BBA, and Shin Young Suk, managing director of KEC signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations and countries, the minister told media after the signing eremony.

As part of the MoU a technical team of KEC will visit Padma Bridge site and will give a proposal on possible maintenance, required manpower and relevant issues including toll collection, Quader said.

Once the technical proposal is discussed and approved by the authorities concerned, the two sides will sign a contract, he added.

Padma Multipurpose Bridge

The construction work of the much-hyped Padma bridge formally started in December 2015. It is now expected to be completed by 2020.

The bridge, which will connect the country's southern region to the capital, will hugely boost communications and trade and economic activities.

The 6.15-kilometre bridge will have a total of 41 spans, each 150 meters long. The plying of vehicles on the bridge is expected to begin by June 2021.

The Padma Bridge project has witnessed an overall progress of 73 percent, Quader told the reporters last month.

Government provided Tk 29,893 crore loan to BBA through the Finance Division to implement the project of Padma Bridge.

Once the project is completed, the BBA will repay the loan from its income at 1 percent interest.

BBA will start repaying the loan from fiscal 2021-22. The repayment period is 35 years.

Kamruzzaman