Japanese firm to build three bridges on Dhaka-Ctg highway

A Japanese joint venture will build three four-lane bridges on Dhaka-Chittagong highway under a Japan-financed project of Tk 5,967 crore.

At a meeting yesterday, the cabinet committee on purchase approved the road transport and highways division's proposal to award the job.

The joint venture comprises Obayashi Corporation, Shimizu Corporation, JFE Engineering Corporation, and IHI Infrastructure Systems.

The company will construct the 397.3-metre second Kanchpur bridge on the Sitalakkhya river, the 930-metre second bridge on the Meghna river, and the 1,410-metre second bridge on the Gomti river.

The costs to build the new bridges and rehabilitate the existing ones have been estimated at Tk 8,487 crore.

Of the amount, Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide a low-cost loan of Tk 6,429 crore. The joint venture will also build the approach roads to each of the bridges.

The bridges will be built to ease traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and to foster quick communication between Chittagong port and the rest of the country, according to the proposal of the road transport and highways ministry.