Economic Prospect of Padma Multipurpose
Economic Prospect of Padma Multipurpose
Economic Prospect of Padma Multipurpose
Abstract: A country‟s economic development generally depends on the degree of infrastructural development of that country.
Though Bangladesh is a developing country, its recent government is trying to progress in developing infrastructure as it is one of
the most significant prerequisites to the total development of the country. The recent government has taken various and massive
initiatives for infrastructure development. Padma bridge construction is the largest and bold project in the history of Bangladesh.
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB), the 25th longest bridge in the world, will be constructed within 2018 aimed at
contributing to the overall economic development in Bangladesh by eliminating all hurdles to the south-west corridor and
activating economic exchanges between the regions. The purpose of the study is to determine and measure the Economic Prospect
of Padma Bridge in Bangladesh including GDP, GNP, standard of living, infrastructure development in transportation and
communication, industrial growth and employment opportunities etc. that are hinged on Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Padma
Multipurpose Bridge is Government‟s self-financing, courageous and biggest project which will cover the entire development of
the overall economic activities and ensures quality of life that will be derived from the implementation of the project. From the
viewpoint of development researcher, If a country has to develop from economic to social, it must develop its infrastructures The
study investigates, measure, and evaluates whether The Padma Bridge would bring economic prospect from the reflection light of
peoples‟ perceptions. To do this Five-Point Likert Scale has been used to survey people who are inhabitants and experts of these
regions. As samples of 100 respondents (selective samples) have been surveyed since they represent all population segments in the
country. This paper reports on the findings of a study to examine the economic prospects of the country based on primary and
secondary data regarding the project.
Keyword: Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Padma River, Development approach, Infrastructure Development, Transportation and
Communication, Government and Development, Government Policy.
1. Introduction
Padma Bridge project is one of the most challenging, significant and largest self-financing projects of the current Government
(Awami league). After the refuge proposal from World Bank it was the self-esteem of government to build it self-financing. It
would be multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River to be constructed in Bangladesh connecting
Louhajong, Munshiganj to Shariatpur and Madaripur district. It will link the south-west of the country; to northern and eastern
regions. The two-level steel truss bridge will carry a four-lane highway on the upper level and a single track railway on a lower
level. With 150 m span, 6150 m total length and 18.10 m width it is going to be the largest bridge in the Padma-Brahmaputra-
Meghna river basins of country in terms of both span and the total length.
Padma Multipurpose Bridge at a glance
Coordinates 23°25 21 N 90°18 35 E
Carries Motor vehicles, Railway
Crosses Padma River
Locale Louhajong, Munshiganj to Shariatpur and Madaripur
Maintained by Bangladesh Bridge Authority
Characteristics
Design Truss bridge
Material Steel
Total length 6,150 m (20,180 ft)
Width 18.10 m (59.4 ft)
History
Designer AECOM
Constructed by China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited
Construction begin 7 December 2014
Construction end Expected in December 2018
Opened December 2018
Location Map View of Padma Bridge
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The objective of the study is to investigate, measure, and evaluate whether The Padma Bridge would bring
2. Objective of the Study:
The study will also investigate the prospect of infrastructural and industrial development of these areas.
economic prospect from the perspective of peoples of bridging areas.
A model questionnaire has been developed to elicit essential data. The Questionnaire is structured in nature and is
i. Primary Source:
Informal interviews with industry experts and project managers of the bridge.
Survey area: Munshiganj, Shariatpur and Madaripur.
Articles, Seminars, magazines, newspapers, and government data on the Padma multipurpose Bridge.
ii. Secondary Sources:
Various websites.
4. Literature Review
In the modern and global economy, to be succeed on overall economic development transport, water, energy, waste management
system, digital communication are very inevitable components. Various significant study has shown that investment in well design
infrastructures have long term economic benefit; because they can bring economic growth, productivity and real economic value
of land. In their study (Novella Bottini, Miguel Coelho, and Jennifer Kao, 2012) they have shown that development of
infrastructure facilities depends on the initiatives, strategies and policy requirement taken by government in the following areas:
Strengthening the governance, strategic planning and finance of major infrastructure investment through the creation of a new
an Infrastructure Strategy Board (ISB) to provide independent expert advice to parliament to guide strategic priorities;
institutional architecture. Key elements of this new architecture are:
an Infrastructure Planning Commission to support the implementation of those priorities with more powers to share the
an Infrastructure Bank to facilitate the provision of finance, to bring in expertise and to work with the private sector to
gains from infrastructure investment by more generously compensating those who stand to lose from new developments;
Conceptually, infrastructure may affect aggregate output in two main ways: (i) directly, considering the sector contribution to
GDP formation and as an additional input in the production process of other sectors; and (ii) indirectly, raising total factor
productivity by reducing transaction and other costs thus allowing a more efficient use of conventional productive inputs.
Infrastructure can be considered as a complementary factor for economic growth. The empirical literature is far from unanimous,
but a majority of studies report a significant positive effect of infrastructure on output, productivity, or long-term growth rates.
Infrastructure investment is complementary to other investment in the sense that insufficient infrastructure investment constrains
other investment, while excessive infrastructure investment has no added value. To the extent that suboptimal infrastructure
investment constrains other investment, it constrains growth (Newbery, 2012).
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It is necessary to realign the nation’s infrastructure to the changing world economy. The Bangladesh’s infrastructure must be
secure, flexible, and well inter-connected in order to support the Bangladesh’s long term economic growth. Infrastructure
security and stability concerns the quantity of spare capacity (or security of supply). Instead of acting on the efficiency frontier,
infrastructure projects must operate with spare capacity to contribute to economic growth through ensuring reliable service
provision in energy and transport. Finally, interconnection and complementarities across different infrastructure sectors are key
elements for increasing service efficiency, supporting the adoption of innovative technologies and supporting growth. Good
connection between cities and airports, via rail, roads and underground, decrease the travel time and costs and increase airports’
appeal for both airlines companies and passengers. (Rosewell, 2012)
Grimes (2014) extend the Overman et al model to include infrastructure provision, deriving the conditions under which a new
infrastructure investment within a city will expand that city’s population. To do so, the infrastructure investment must raise
amenity-adjusted real wages, where amenity-adjusted wages include the value of unprimed amenities to an individual. An
infrastructure investment may increase amenity-adjusted wages through a variety of mechanisms: first, the infrastructure may
raise amenities in a city (e.g. through provision of a new concert hall); second, the infrastructure may reduce travel costs (e.g.
through provision of an improved transport network); third, the infrastructure may raise productivity and hence wages (e.g.
through a new port or airport); fourth, the infrastructure may raise skills and hence wages (e.g. through provision of a higher
educational institution).
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Position Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative
300 Cumulative
Percent Percent
Strongly 68 68 68 68 250 Percent
Agree 200 Valid
Agree 19 19 19 87 Percent
Neither 11 11 11 98 150
Agree Not Percent
100
Disagree
Disagree 2 2 2 100 50
Strongly 0 0 0 100 0
Strongly Agree Neither Disagree Strongly
Disagree Agree Agree Not Disagree
Disagree
Total 100 100 100
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that (68+19) or 87 respondents believed that Padma Bridge will bring economic
enhancement of the local people. Another 11 respondents are neutral in their opinion. So we can say that most (87%) respondents
are aware of their potential economic development.
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Interpretation: From the table it is shown that (59) respondents said that they need just 10 to 20 minutes to cross the river after
inauguration of Padma Bridge. And 21 respondents said that they need just 20 to 30 minutes and only 4% said just more than 30
minutes.
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Position Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative 400
Percent Percent Cumulative
300
Real Estate 3 3 3 3 Percent
200
Hotels and 9 9 9 12 Valid
Resorts 100 Percent
Transportations 4 4 4 16 0 Percent
Fisheries 1 1 1 17
Constructions 1 1 1 18 Frequency
All 82 82 82 100
Total 100 100 100
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that all respondents believed that industrial expansion would be possible in all areas.
10. After industrialization GDP might be increase.
Position Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative 250 Cumulative
Percent Percent
200 Percent
Strongly 59 59 59 59
Agree 150 Valid Percent
Agree 38 38 38 97
Neither 3 3 3 100 100
Agree Not
Disagree 50 Percent
Disagree 0 0 0 100 0
Strongly 0 0 0 100 Strongly Agree Neither Disagree Strongly
Disagree
Agree Agree
Not
Disagree Frequency
Total 100 100 100 Disagree
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that most of the respondents (59+38) or 97 believed that GDP might be increase after
inauguration Padma Bridge.
12. Reducing pressure of over populated of Dhaka city after inauguration of Padma Bridge?
Response Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative 300
Percent Percent
Yes 72 72 72 72 250
No 21 21 21 93 200
No comments
No 7 7 7 100
150 No
comments
Total 100 100 100 100 Yes
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that 72 respondents
said that Reducing pressure of over populated of Dhaka city 50
after inauguration of Padma Bridge. 21 respondents have 0 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
negative reply on that statement. And 7 respondents have no Percent
13. It is possible for Government to serve local people with utilities (services) like Gas, Electricity, internet and other
infrastructure.
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Position Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative 300
Percent Percent Cumulative
Strongly 61 61 61 61 250 Percent
Agree
200
Agree 29 29 29 90 Valid Percent
Neither 4 4 4 94 150
Agree
Not 100
Percent
Disagree 50
Disagree 6 6 6 100
Strongly 0 0 0 100 0 Frequency
Strongly Agree Neither Disagree Strongly
Disagree Agree Agree Not
Disagree
Disagree
Agree 140
120 Cumulative Percent
Agree 42 42 42 64
100
Neither 25 25 25 89 80
Valid Percent
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that (22+42) or 64 respondents believed that Literature rate would be increased.
Another 25 respondents are neutral in their opinion and 11 respondents are disagreed. So we can say that most (64%) respondents
believed Literature rate would be increased.
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that (58+42) or 100 respondents believed that Balanced infrastructure Development of
the whole country is possible. So we can all respondents are believed that balanced infrastructure Development of the whole
country is possible.
16. Balance economic developments of the people are possible.
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Position Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative 300
Percent Percent Cumulative
Strongly 51 51 51 51 250 Percent
Agree 200 Valid Percent
Agree 47 47 47 98
Neither 2 2 2 100 150
Agree Not Percent
Disagree
100
Disagree 0 0 0 100 50
Strongly 0 0 0 100 Frequency
0
Disagree Strongly
Agree
Agree Neither Disagree
Agree Not
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Total 100 100 100
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that (51+47) or 98 respondents believed that Balance economic developments of the
people are possible. Another 2 respondents are neutral in their opinion.
Interpretation: From the table it is shown that (56+41) or 97 respondents believed that Balance standard of living is possible.
Another 3 respondents are neutral in their opinion.
9.5% in agriculture,
8% in manufacturing and transport.
0.8% in nationally
ii. Findings from experts interview:
If we can complete the project successfully it would be a big boost for our regional and sub-regional connectivity. And
the country will enter a new era of development; AFM Saiful Amin, Professor, Civil Engineering Department, BUET
(Keynote speaker).
The government has taken massive development programmed targeting the Padma Bridge. We are planning to establish a
high-tech park in Shariatpur. In Bagerhat we have already started construction of an airport. The Bridge will also connect
the Payra port. It will also help decentralize the government administration. We will be able to bring a dramatic change in
the life of the poor people of the region within next ten years. Nahim Razzak MP, Shariatpur-3
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The Padma Bridge is simply a blessing for the people of south-western region. They are already feeling the momentum.
Previously one bigha land in my area fetched only Tk1 lac which has now soared to Tk 25 lac. Many industrialists are
eager to invest in the area. After completion of the Bridge, it will take only one and half hours to reach Dhaka. So our
farmers will be able to directly send their perishable products to the capital without suffering any wastage. It will also
create an opportunity for developing tourism business in that area. On the whole, the Bridge will bring dramatic change
in every sphere of our life. BM Muzammel Haque MP, Shariatpur 1.
[Source: The Daily Star, January 18, 2016]
Conclusion:
A country’s economic development generally depends on the degree of infrastructural development of that country. Though
Bangladesh is a developing country, its recent government (Awami league) is trying to develop infrastructure as it is one of the
most significant prerequisites to the total development of the country. The recent government has taken various and massive
initiatives for infrastructure development. Padma bridge construction is the largest and bold project in the history of Bangladesh.
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB), the 25th longest bridge in the world, will be constructed within 2018 aimed at
contributing to the overall economic development in Bangladesh by eliminating all hurdles to the south-west corridor and
activating economic exchanges between the regions. Though the World Bank refuged to finance in this Padma multipurpose
Bridge project, the government take it as challenge to implement the project self-financing which the bold step is taken by the
government. After analyzing all data and information it can be conclude that overall significant economic development would be
possible specially in large areas like quality of life, communication and transport development, potential productivity and skill of
people.
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