POBNEWS24, Dhaka, June 16, 2022 : The durability of Padma Bridge is estimated to be 100 years. At this time, the government considers the maintenance of the bridge important. The cost of construction of the bridge will be raised through toll collection.
The bridge department has decided to form a state-owned company to operate the Padma bridge for maintenance of the bridge and collection of tolls as expected. The decision to form the company was taken at a board meeting of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority last month.
The government formed the ‘Jamuna Bridge’ implementation authority during the construction of the Bangabandhu Bridge over the river Jamuna. Later it was established as the bridge authority. The bridge authority is an agency of the bridge department. The Muktarpur Bridge is also under it.
Similarly, an initiative has been taken to form a new company to form a separate entity for the Padma Bridge. However, some of the officials of the bridge authority say that it is enough to increase the capacity of the bridge authority without making new companies. Forming a new company means additional expenses.
At present the total manpower in the Padma Bridge project is 95 except the staff and consultants of the contracting company. Of these, 32 are in senior positions including project director. They come from various departments of the government including Ministry of Public Administration, Department of Roads and Highways (RHD), Railways. When the project is completed, they will return to their respective departments. It will be time for some people to retire from their jobs.
There are 63 people in various positions including Assistant Director, Deputy Assistant Director, Accountant, Data Entry Operator, Driver, Office Assistant in Padma Bridge project. Their jobs are not permanent. They demanded that the job be made permanent.
Although initiatives have been taken to form new companies, they will not be responsible for the maintenance and collection of tolls on the Padma Bridge. South Korean company Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) and China Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC), a contractor engaged in the construction of the Padma Bridge, have been entrusted with the task for the next five years. They will get Rs 693 crore in 5 years. The bridge authorities will supervise the contractors.
Bridges officials say various legal and institutional preparations are needed to form the company. That preparation is going on now. After that it will go through various processes including recruitment of manpower.
An official of the bridge department, who did not want to be named, told Prothom Alo last night that the reason for leaving the toll collection and maintenance of the Padma Bridge to foreign companies for five years is that the government wants to form companies or increase its capacity.
