Dhaka Bangladesh Padma bridge Made cost rises to $2.4 bln
Padma bridge cost rises to $2.4 bln: Muhith Dhaka, Dec 21 —The estimated cost of the Padma bridge has escalated to staggering US$2.4 billion, said finance minister AMA Muhith Monday. The finance minister said this after an inter-ministerial meeting on the bridge construction held Monday. "The initially estimated cost of building the bridge was $1.4 billion, which increased to $2.4 billion at the end of today's (Monday) meeting," said Muhith. The caretaker government had put cost to around $1.4 billion, which later rose to $1.8 billion after a revision, he said. The present government, immediately coming to power, enhanced the cost at $1.9 billion, which will be implemented with loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. Muhith said, "The WB will provide $1.2 billion, the ADB $550 million, IDB $120 million and JICA $300 million. Abu Dhabi Development Group will lend $31 million." The rest of the fund will be mobilised loca...