Padma Bridge is one of major outstanding infrastructure required for balanced economic development of Bangladesh. Awamil League Government of 1996-2001 managed to complete the Bangabanddhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge linking the Western parts of Bangladesh with the east. The multidimensional impact of the Jamuna Bridge on national economy could not be reaped to its full extent due to absence of Padma Bridge which for narrow vision of 4 party alliance government could not take off in 7 years since Awami League government was voted out of power in 2002. But before handing over power Government did some ground work in deciding its location and laying a foundation stone. For 5 years since 2002-2006 the four party alliance government Communication Ministry failed to take positive initiative to move the initiative ahead. However Care taker Government took some initiative in sourcing funding and selecting the design consultants. Mahajote Government of Sheikh Hasina in one of its major action after assuming state power signed an agreement with New Zealand-based consultant firm Maunsell AECOM for preparing the design of Padma Bridge. According to the agreement, Maunsell will start working on the design within 28 days and finish by December 2010.

Greg Klamus, director (infrastructure) of Maunsell Limited, and Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, signed the agreement at the Bridge Division office. It is anticipated that the gross domestic product of the would increase by 2 percent once the bridge was constructed. The bridge, which would connect the southwest region with the rest of the country, could be used for the trans-Asian route; the minister said adding "The Bridge will help gear up industrialisation in the region too."Environmental impact of the bridge would be assessed during the preparation of design. Government is endeavouring to start construction of the proposed Padma Bridge in 2011 to comple it by 2014. The bridge to be built at an estimated Tk 10,161 crore would be, the longest bridge in the country with 5.58km length and 25m width, he added. The bridge will have four lanes and a railroad in the middle. The bridge will also have a gas transmission pipeline, power transmission line and telecommunication cable.

The Jamuna Multi-Purpose Bridge Authorities (JMBA) that looked after large bridge projects, in a study in 2005 estimated that 918. 76 hectares of land would be needed to be acquired on both the sides of Padma Bridge. The land acquisition cost is estimated at 3.2 billion taka (about 46 million U.S. dollars), said the study. According to a survey by JICA, nearly 30,000 people will lose their lands due to land acquisition for construction of the bridge.

The 5.58 km long 25-metre wide, four lane bridge on the river Padma connecting Mawa (35km south of Dhaka) in Munshiganj with Jazira in Madaripur is also likely to contribute hugely to the functioning of the Mongla Port in Bagerhat, the second seaport of the country that fails to attract cargo ships owing to poor communications. The decision to construct the bridge was taken back in 2001 but dilly-dally over selecting the construction sites delayed the process.

Bangladesh government is negotiating with donors like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for financial assistance for constructing the bridge. To start implementation of the mega project in time Government must firm out financing at the earliest so that the construction can start on schedule. If there remains some outstanding amount after commitment of WB, AB and JBIC government may create bond and let it out for Bangladeshis at home and abroad to buy it and become partner of this initiative. Several other governments like China, Kuwait, UAE may also provide fund if correctly approached. Whatever happens government must ensure that lack of initiative to arrange funding must not cause delay in project implementation.

Government of Hasina must have learnt some bitter lessons from some inappropriate visions and some acts of deliberate omissions in design and implementations of Jamuna Multipurpose bridge which originally did not have provison for railway line and gas pipeline. The addition of Railway line at a later stage many thinks may be a reason for some cracks that were evidenced in the bridge in the recent past.

Gas transmission pipeline was also not originally designed properly. The construction of the pipeline which was awarded to Hyundai having no previous track record of such work was not also properly supervised .This led to an unfortunate incident during hydrostatic testing of the pipeline. The pipeline fell into the river and the entire pipeline ha to be rebuilt after redesign. Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina could not inaugurate the gas supply to western Region on the same day when he opened the bridge. Left over pipes of some previous projects were used without proper check to build the high pressure gas pipeline section from Elenga to Eastern side of Jamuna River. At least 90 badly pitted pipes were to be replaced which also delayed the pipeline construction. The GTCL project management favoured a local contractor and set up a thoroughly corrupt project management which even did not inspect the pipeline construction properly. The pipeline below Karotoa river was not laid to designed depth. In 2007 this pipeline section failed and gas supply remained suspended till GTCL had to arrange alternate supply through interconnection with another pipeline. It may be mentioned here that World Bank which was supposed to fund the pipeline installation considered award of contract to the pipeline contractor considered it as misprocurement and withdrew fund. Bangladesh government utilise own fund still relying on the controversial contract. Conspicuously the wrong doings were not investigated properly. Major General Sayeed carried out one man investigation of pipe failure but the contents of the report was not made public and incompetent gas sector professionals associated with the project were not taken to task. The gas pipeline from Elenga to Baghabari is one of the worst quality Gas transmission pipeline in national gas grid. The Section from Elenga to Baghabari may not sustain the elevated pressure when Pipeline Compressor is set up at Elenga.

Anyway the intention of discussing this here is to set an eye opener that this time similar mistake must not be made in the design, material selection, and engagement of construction contractor and supervison of construction. In all probability the planned Bakhrabad – Siddhirganj Gas Transmission will be extended to cross Padma along the multipurpose bridge. This pipeline will require pipeline Compressor station at strategic locations to carry enough gas to Southern region as it will also fee several power plants at Horipoor, Meghnaghat and Siddhirganj.

The design of the pipeline along the bridge itself must be appropriate. Appropriate HAZOP analysis must be carried out and construction must be supervised by experienced pipe liners. If the general Contractor is to be given the work in a package there must be a provision that it engages proper pipeline contractor having track record of constructing such gas pipelines along long bridge.

The Padma multipurpose bridge is a long cherished dream of the people of the entire southern region. The bridge will link the greater Khulna, Greater Faridpoor and Greater Barisal region with the rest of the country. It will give tremendous boost to national economy as the direct driving travel distance between Dhaka and this region will be greatly reduced and hustles and harassment people face in moving tradeable commodities to and from this region will be removed. The agro rich region of Barisal and Khulna can feed the rest of the country much easily. Mongla port can make greater contribution. Tourism industry in the picturesque mangrove forest Sundarban and marvellous sea resort Kuakata will get massive boost.Nepal, Bhutan and 7 sisters around Bangladesh may utilise this bridge to use Mongla port which will give our economy a massive shot in the arm.