The multipurpose Padma Bridge has been constructed at a cost of $3.6 billion.
Dhaka:
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated the long-awaited Padma Bridge, the country’s longest and built entirely with domestic funds.
The 6.15-km long road-rail four-lane bridge over the Padma river connects south-western Bangladesh with the capital and other parts.
The multipurpose road-rail bridge, which is fully funded by the Bangladesh government, has been constructed at a cost of $3.6 billion.
The inauguration of the Padma bridge assumes great significance as the structure was built entirely with domestic financing, defying speculation by some financial analysts as to whether Bangladesh can raise funds based on domestic resources.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep gratitude to the people involved in the construction of the Padma bridge.
The Prime Minister said, “I have no grudge against anyone, but I believe those who opposed the Padma Bridge construction plan and called it a ‘Pipe Dream’, lack confidence. I hope this bridge is theirs. Will boost confidence.”
“This bridge is not just brick, cement, iron and concrete… This bridge is our pride, a symbol of our capability, our strength and our dignity. This bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh,” he said.
The Padma Bridge project posed several engineering marvels as well as technical challenges. It emerged as a wonder structure for Bangladesh and saw the use of state-of-the-art machinery and know-how.
The project was initially expected to be funded by a consortium led by the World Bank.
In 2012, it rescinded the proposed credit, saying it had “credible evidence” of high-level corruption among Bangladeshi officials.
Bangladesh has always denied these allegations and preferred not to approach the international lender for funding.
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