RHD project to cut travel time and cost

• Construction of 15 bridges may take Tk 8,000cr
• Works for those may start in 2 or 3yrs
• 35 other bridges will be implemented in later phases
• The bridges will help replace travelling by ferry
   

To improve connectivity and cut travel time and cost, the government has planned to build around 50 major bridges under the network of Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

For the first phase, fifteen bridges have been selected for construction. The process to conduct feasibility studies for them has already started, officials said.

The construction cost of the bridges and inauguration of the project's physical work depend on the feasibility studies and fund management, RHD sources said.

RHD officials also said it may take up Tk 8,000 crores to build the 15 bridges, the works for which may start in two or three years, if funds are managed in time.

Construction of the remaining 35 bridges will be done in the next phases, the officials said.

Currently, RHD's network encompasses 22,428 kilometres of roads, 4,297 bridges and 15,048 culverts across the country.

There is no specific definition for major bridges, but those longer than 500 metres are usually considered to be major ones.

Shishir Kanti Routh, additional chief engineer (bridge management wing) at RHD, said the bridges will help replace travelling by ferry, which can ultimately cut travel time and costs and ensure the network's reliability. Besides, the bridges will be built to enhance capacity of existing ones like Sultana Kamal Bridge in Dhaka.

Initially, RHD selected 54 bridges to be built across the country. Later, it chose 15 to be implemented at the first stage.

The 15 selected bridges are the Second Sultana Kamal Bridge over Shitalakhshya river in Dhaka; Chandraghona Bridge over Karnaphuli river in Chattogram; Arua Bridge over Atai river in Khulna; Khuruskul Bridge over Bakkhali river in Cox's Bazar; Mirganj Bridge over Arial Khan river in Barishal; Laxmipasha Bridge over Porar Dhan river in Barishal; Banaripara Bridge over Sandhya river in Barishal; Mahadev Bridge over Mahadev river in Mymensingh; Ganeshwari Bridge over Ganeshwari river in Mymensingh; Someshwari Bridge-2 and 3 over Someshwari river in Mymensingh; Nitai Bridge over Nitai river in Mymensingh; and three bridges over Brahmaputra river in Mymensingh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in June 2010 formally inaugurated the Sultana Kamal Bridge in the capital's Demra. However, as the two-lane bridge is failing to meet demands, the decision to build another bridge beside it was taken, RHD sources said.

RHD's Shishir Kanti Routh said they have already started the tendering process to appoint consultants for carrying out the feasibility study, concept and detail design.

They hope that the feasibility study can be started early next year, and it may take up to 18 months. Then, physical work would start, he added.

Between 2009 and 2018, RHD built or reconstructed 914 bridges and 3,977 culverts, according to official documents.