Bhola bridge could be built with domestic funding
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The Padma Bridge has set a new example of transformation in the transportation system of the southern region. Similarly, the Bhola Bridge could become another such infrastructure project. It would connect Bhola, the country’s only island district, directly with the mainland by road. This would not only make travel easier for people in Bhola but also create new opportunities for goods transportation, industrialization, and the transportation of gas and electricity.
The bridge has been under discussion for a long time. Now the Barishal Bhola Bridge project is moving toward a new route and design. A new survey is underway to examine an alternative route. This could significantly reduce both the length of the bridge and the construction cost. As a result, the project, which was previously estimated to cost Tk 19,000 crore, could potentially be implemented with government funding instead of foreign loans.
After the first survey, a plan was made to construct a bridge from Veduria in Bhola to Ilisha Ghat in Barishal. The bridge was planned to cross the Arial Khan, Kalabadar, Tetulia and Ilisha rivers before connecting with Bhola. However, under the new route being considered, the length of the main bridge would fall from nearly 11 kilometers to less than three kilometers. The sections involving connecting roads and flyovers would also become shorter. Previously, the total length of the bridge and road sections was expected to exceed 16 kilometers.
Now it would be less than six kilometers. The preliminary construction cost is estimated at around Tk 5,500 crore. This means the cost could fall by around Tk 13,000 crore compared with the previous plan.
Secretary of the Bridges Division Mohammad Abdur Rouf told Agamir Somoy, “The previous survey had progressed significantly. Now another survey is being conducted along a new route. If the results of the new survey are positive, there is a greater possibility that the project will be implemented along that route. If the cost comes down, the bridge could be constructed with government funding without foreign loans.”
The first feasibility study for a bridge between Barishal and Bhola began in 2013. The survey was completed around 2019. At that time, the proposed location for the bridge was along the route from Laherhat ferry terminal in Barishal to Veduria ferry terminal in Bhola. Under that plan, the bridge was approximately 10 kilometers long. Around three kilometers of it was planned to pass over Sripur Char. Later, the estimated project cost increased from Tk 9,922 crore to around Tk 19,000 crore. Although initiatives were taken to seek financing from Japan and several other countries, the project did not reach the implementation stage.
Now a new survey is underway with the Muladi corridor at its center. The feasibility of establishing road connectivity with Bhola through this route is being assessed. Officials concerned said that if the new route proves effective, the length of the main bridge required to cross the rivers would be reduced significantly. This would also reduce the cost of connecting roads, land acquisition and construction.
The initial project concept included a 10.87-kilometer bridge along with around six kilometers of roads. Each span of the bridge was planned to be 200 meters. The four-lane bridge would have been 20.25 meters wide. There would have been 5.5 kilometer connecting roads on both sides of the bridge. Two service lanes would have been constructed on both sides of the four-lane main road. The total road width would have been 39.5 meters. The project would have required the acquisition of 507.50 acres of land.
The discussion over changing the route has also created controversy. Supporters of the new route argue that Bhola could be connected to the mainland over a shorter distance and at a lower cost. On the other hand, some residents of Bhola say that the calculation should not focus only on reducing construction costs. Travel time and distance to important destinations including Barishal city must also be considered.
On August 25, the organization Amra Bholabashi also held a press conference and demanded technical and economic assessments of the proposed route change. The organization said the current plan to establish road connectivity between Bhola through Rahmatpur, Hizla and Mehendiganj could increase long term public suffering instead of reducing travel time and distance.
According to information provided by the organization, the route could require the construction of 21 kilometers of new highways, reconstruction or widening of 36 kilometers of roads and three major bridges at the mouth of the Meghna River. Therefore, they have demanded an assessment of whether the construction cost, implementation time and long-term maintenance costs of the entire corridor would be reasonable compared with a direct Barishal Bhola Bridge.
Bhola has a population of around 2.3 million. The island district covers an area of 3,403 square kilometers. As it is surrounded by rivers, it has no direct road connection with the mainland. The distance from Bhola’s Ilisha River terminal to the highway in Barishal is around 48 kilometers. It takes around two and a half hours to travel this route by launch at normal speed. As a result, residents of Bhola have to depend on waterways for medical treatment, education, business and trade as well as emergencies.
If the proposed bridge is constructed, this dependence could decrease significantly. Bhola would have an opportunity to connect directly with the national highway network. Easier transportation of goods could also affect the district’s agriculture, fisheries and industrial sectors. It would also create an opportunity to transport Bhola’s gas to other parts of the country.
Financing was a major question under the previous plan. Along with proposing that Japan implements the project under a public private partnership (PPP), efforts were also being made to seek foreign financing through the Economic Relations Division. Sources concerned had also indicated interest from China and South Korea.
If the new survey makes it possible to keep the bridge length below three kilometers and the total project cost around Tk 5,500 crore, the financing calculation would also change. Instead of a large foreign loan dependent project costing around Tk 19,000 crore, it could become a comparatively lower cost project that could be implemented through government funding.
The new route survey is now at the center of that possibility. The future of the Bhola Bridge depends on three calculations: how much shorter the route will be, how much easier it will make travel for people and what the actual cost will be.
Speaking to Agamir Somoy, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Md. Hadiuzzaman said, “A bridge is constructed considering its utility for 100 to 150 years. Long term considerations must be taken into account before determining the route. Attention must be paid to how a large population can be provided with services, how connectivity can be increased and how GDP growth can be boosted. If people in the marginalized areas cannot access the services, there will be no benefit in reducing the length of the bridge simply to lower costs.”
