‘Don’t think Padma bridge pillar hit by ferry has caused any damage to structure’
The project director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project has said that they do not think the hit to a pillar by a ferry this morning has caused any damage to the structure.
Shafiqul Islam, project director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, said, "We do not think the hit (of ferry) has caused any damage to the bridge...However, we are investigating."
He said the structure was made by keeping a provision that it would be able to tolerate a 5000-tonne hit.
Replying to another question, he told The Daily Star," We are in the process to take action in this regard."
"We have earlier told them (BIWTC) verbally to operate technically-sound ferries with care. But it seems the ferries were not technically sound and were not being operated carefully. We will now write to them officially," he said.
Meanwhile, an engineer involved with the project said they are investigating the incident and will file a general dairy with local police station to know whether there was any ill motive behind it.
Around 20 passengers were injured after a ro-ro ferry hit a pillar of Padma Bridge while going to Shimulia ghat of Munshiganj from Banglabazar ghat of Madaripur.
Ferry Shah Jalal hit pillar no-17 around 9:30am near Louhajang area on the river, reports our Munshiganj correspondent quoting Md Jahangir Alam Khan, senior information officer of shipping ministry.
Earlier on Tuesday, another ferry hit another pillar of the under-construction bridge, leaving portion of the ferry damaged.
The 6.15km bridge, which is expected to be opened for public in June next year, is being constructed with a cost of more than Tk 30,000 crore.
Comments