30pc of Padma bridge work completed

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday told parliament that around 30 percent of the construction work of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge have been completed and work is going on to complete the construction of the mega project on time.

“Around 20.5 percent work of the main bridge, 17.5 percent of river training, 64.88 percent of Janjira connecting road, 72.8 percent of Mawa connecting road and 78.13 percent of Padma Bridge service area-2 have been completed,” he said while replying to lawmakers' queries.

Quader also said Bangladesh Army would construct the four-lane Postgola-Mawa-Babubazar road.

Besides, the Bridge Division has a plan to construct eight bridges, including the Second Padma Bridge at Paturia-Goalanda point, Bhulta-Araihazar-Bancharampur-Nabinagar bridge over the Meghna river and Rahmatpur-Babuganj-Muladi-Hijla-Mehendiganj bridge over the Arial Kha river, he added.

The House went into its 10th session with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair yesterday. The session will continue until May 5.

GOVT TO UPDATE MOTOR VEHICLE ORDINANCE

Quader told the House that the government, with a view to updating the Motor Vehicle Ordinance-1983, has decided to formulate two separate laws -- the Road Transport Act-2016 and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Act-2016.

“The government has undertaken initiatives to establish vehicle inspection centre and motor driving testing and training centre at the district level across the country,” he said.

The minister said the BRTA started providing retro-reflective number plate, Radio Frequency (RFID) tag, digital registration certificate and digital driving licence.

Besides, the government has established five motor vehicle inspection centres in four divisional cities for providing fitness certificates to motor vehicles by using modern technology.