The construction work of Viaduct-2 in Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) has been completed before the stipulated time. The work of segmental girder erection of Viaduct-2 has been completed 51 days ahead of the schedule with the placement of the last span of box girder on piers M01 and
Authorities of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) are likely to start installation of rail track on the Mawa-Bhanga section from July in a major development for the fast-track project being implemented by Bangladesh Railway.
They would be ready to install the rail track on the Padma bridge within October this year and it would take up to six months to complete the work, said officials.
However, before starting the work, Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), which is executing the long-cherished bridge project, has to hand over the bridge to BR s contractor for the work.
But the BBA may take up to February or March to complete their work before handing over the bridge, and in that case, it would be tough for BR to finish their work within June next year, the new deadline to open the bridge for public, said officials.
Projects hit snags with suspension of flights Staff Correspondent Staff Correspondent
Several major projects involving Chinese contractors are facing problems due to the week-long suspension of international flights, project officials and contractors said.
They said many people, including experts, in these projects have to come from and go to China on a regular basis, and the suspension from Wednesday was hampering their movement.
Meanwhile, China Railway Group Limited, also known as CREC, contractor for several of the projects including the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, yesterday urged the authorities to resume Bangladesh-China flights.
The CREC, on behalf of the other Chinese contractors working in Bangladesh, made the appeal, reads a press release sent through its PR agency.
Two ministry officials confirmed about the letter.
This correspondent could not reach Pronab Kumar Ghosh, additional secretary (development and planning), and Salim Reza, secretary, over the phone. Text messages sent to them were also not replied to.
The ministry letter mentioned that an English daily last month reported on the long delay in signing of a loan from China for a project to turn Joydebpur-Ishwardi section into dual-gauge double lines. The report quoted a top BR official. Chinese embassy notified the Economic Relations Division about the matter. Chinese embassy in its letter mentioned that no information can be leaked to the media as per the work discipline of the G-to-G [government to government] projects, reads the letter.
The National Economic Council, presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, yesterday approved the revised ADP.
Apart from the rail link project, allocations for the Matarbari 1,200MW coal-fired power plant and the Payra Deep-sea Port have been increased.
The allocation for the Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 (MRT-6), under which the country s first ever metro rail is being built, remained the same, according to documents.
Apart from the Padma bridge and the Rooppur power plant projects, the allocation for Chattogram-Cox s Bazar Rail Line was also reduced.
The eighth fast-track project, Rampal Power Plan, is not being funded by the ADP.
Most of the projects are running behind schedule largely due to uncertainty over funding, the Gulshan cafe attack in 2016, complexity over designs, planning, and land acquisition.