Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

The much-hyped Padma Bridge project is likely to miss its current deadline of June 2021 which may increase its cost again, officials said.

Coronavirus outbreak has slowed down the construction work.

“The government has not extended the deadline yet. But it would be required. At least six more months would be needed. If the Covid-19 situation does not improve, it may take more time,” Bridge Division Secretary Belayet Hossain told The Daily Star yesterday.

The pace of work is not as fast as it used to be earlier, because night-shift work remained suspended, he said.

Asked whether the cost of the project could go up for this reason, the secretary said, “Costs may increase little. Because the contractor(s) will claim more money if the time is extended.”

The current and fourth deadline of the project is June 2021 and costs of the project rose to Tk 30,193 crore following several revisions. Once completed, the 6.15km bridge will connect the capital with 21 southern districts and is expected to boost Bangladesh’s gross domestic product by 1.2 percent.