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Padma Bridge পদ্মা সেতু | |
|---|---|
 Padma Bridge in July 2023 | |
| Coordinates | 23°26′39″N 90°15′40″E / 23.4443°N 90.2610°E |
| Carries | Motor vehicles Railway |
| Crosses | Padma River |
| Official name | Padma Multipurpose Bridge |
| Named for | Padma River |
| Owner | Bangladesh Bridge Authority |
| Website | www |
| Next upstream | Lalon Shah Bridge  |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 6.15 km (3.82 mi) |
| Width | 18.10 m (59.4 ft) |
| Height | 120 m (390 ft) |
| Water depth | 29 m (95 ft)[1] |
| No. of spans | 41 |
| Load limit | 10,000 tonnes[1] |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| History | |
| Designer | AECOM |
| Constructed by | China Major Bridge Engineering Co. Ltd. |
| Construction start | 26 November 2014 |
| Construction end | 23 June 2022[2] |
| Construction cost | ৳301.93 billion (US$3.6 billion)[3] |
| Opened | 26 June 2022 |
| Inaugurated | 25 June 2022 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | Yes |
| Location | |
 | |
| Part of a series on |
| Transport in Bangladesh |
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| Modes |
| Aviation |
| Authorities |
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| Public transits |
| Important infrastructures |
| Others |
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge (Bengali: পদ্মা বহুমুখী সেতু, romanized: Pôdma Bôhumukhī Shetu), commonly known as the Padma Bridge (Bengali: পদ্মা সেতু, romanized: Pôdda Setu), is a two-level road-rail bridge across the Padma River, the main distributary of the Ganges in Bangladesh.[4][5]
It connects Louhajang Upazila of Munshiganj and Zazira Upazila of Shariatpur and a small part of Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur, linking the less developed southwest of the country to the northern and eastern regions. The bridge was inaugurated on the morning of 25 June 2022 by the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[2]
The bridge is considered to be the most challenging construction project in the history of Bangladesh. The steel truss bridge carries a four-lane highway on the upper level[6] and a single track railway on the lower level.[7] The bridge consists of 41 sections, each 150.12 m (492.5 ft) long and 22 metres (72 ft) wide, with a total length of 6.15 km (3.82 mi).[5] It is the longest bridge over the river Padma (Padma),[6] and by extension, Bangladesh. Being the longest bridge by both span and total length, and featuring the deepest pile depth of any bridge in the world at 127 m (417 ft).[8][9] [10] The construction of this bridge was deemed to be especially challenging due to specific constraints with the width and depth of the Padma river.
The bridge is expected to boost the GDP of Bangladesh by up to 1.23 percent.[11] 13 districts, of a total 21, will be connected by the bridge to other regions of the country which have an above average poverty rate. Following the inauguration of the bridge, economic activity in the southwestern regions are expected to be significantly boosted with several big companies already starting their productions there.[12] 17 economic zones are planned at different places in the southwestern region.[13] Since its inauguration, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has generated approximately Tk. 800 crore through toll collection in one year. Data analysis from the bridge department reveals that on average, more than 15,000 vehicles cross the bridge on a daily basis. To ensure convenient trip to other destinations by crossing the Padma Bridge, the Government of Bangladesh has initiated numerous projects, including the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Elevated Expressway, aimed at enhancing road connectivity.[14]
- ^ a b "Padma bridge: BAN Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project EIA" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Grand preparations made for Padma Bridge inauguration". The Daily Star. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ "Padma Bridge Fact Box". The Daily Star. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "By self-funding the Padma bridge, Dhaka has got the West off its back". The Economic Times (Opinion). Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Main Bridge Details (Technical)". Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ a b Foizee, Bahauddin (28 June 2022). "Bangladesh: Why a Bridge could Profoundly Impact Ruling Party's Popularity?". Oped Column Syndication.
- ^ Sultana Munima (14 October 2014). "Korean co gets Pawdda bridge supervision work". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
DSwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ ৩ বিশ্ব রেকর্ড করল পদ্মা সেতু. Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "Take a look at Padma Bridge's world records". Dhaka Tribune. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Gains from Padma Bridge to cross $10b, hope experts". The Business Standard. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Padma Bridge opens up investment spree in south". The Business Standard. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "New economic zones, hi-tech parks to be built around Padma Bridge: PM". The Business Standard. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Tk800 crore earned in toll collection from Padma Bridge in one year: Bridge authority". The Business Standard. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.