Tk 6,852cr allocation proposed for Padma Bridge

The government has proposed a special allocation of Tk 6,852 crore for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge with a view to constructing the bridge with own fund.Finance Minister AMA Muhith made proposal while placing budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year in the parliament on Thursday afternoon.
The finance minister said, “I propose to allocate Tk 18,232.73 crore, development and non-development budgets combined, for the road communication and railway sector in FY 2013-14.”
He added: “This includes a special allocation of Tk 6,852 crore for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge.”
Muhith said, “We are therefore inviting proposals from the pre-qualified contractors. I am confident that we will be able to start the main bridge and river training-related work of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, during the tenure of the present government.”
He added: “We will be using an Indian grant of USD 200 million for this project. I also expect that we will be able to mobilize funding from Islamic Development Bank and from few other development partners. We had no other alternative but to begin the implementation of this project with our own funding arrangements.”
Apart from the question of expediency, it is important to ensure international competitive bidding for implementation of such a complex project from engineering point of view, he added. (Source: UNB)

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