A historic day for the country

PRIME Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the main construction work of the Padma Bridge on December 11. We congratulate her for undertaking the single largest infrastructure project in the country so far. The 6.15km bridge will connect Dhaka with other districts in the South and will significantly reduce travel time from districts like Khulna, Barisal and Jessore. And after completion, it will add 1.7 percent to GDP that will come from the savings in travel time and fuel, productivity gains, and increase in traffic volume, the added freight that will be carried and also the increased employment generation. Estimates point a boost of up to 29 percent in construction, 9.5 percent in agriculture and about 8 percent in manufacturing and transport.

That the government has decided to forge ahead with construction of the bridge without foreign assistance demonstrates a confidence in its ability to get the job done within a short timeframe, i.e. 2018. While we applaud the decision to move ahead with Padma Bridge, experts have pointed out the parallel investment of about US$6 billion to develop associated infrastructure to reap the full benefits of the bridge. These include building up a comprehensive road and rail network on both sides of the bridge.

Apprehension remains as the several highways including the Dhaka-Mawa road network expansion project are yet to gather full steam. Without building several ring roads around the capital which will facilitate smooth transportation of vehicles from northern, western and eastern regions to travel over the bridge, the benefit of the potential of the bridge may not be realised fully.