Multipurpose road bridge and railway bridge under construction on Padma river in Bangladesh. Shariatpur and Madaripur districts will be connected through this bridge. The two-tiered steel and concrete bridge will have a four-lane road at the top and a railway at the bottom. The length of the bridge is 6.150 km and the width is 16.10 m. The ferries have been colliding with the pillars of the Padma Bridge for some time now. Four times in a month on the pillars of the Padma Bridge. Authorities blamed the accident on the negligence of the driver and the driver and the strong current of the river. It has been decided to take some precautionary measures in the management of this route without stopping the ferry service. If the current is high, the ferry service will be stopped.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the concerned agencies of the Ministry of Shipping, Padma Bridge Project Authority and experts at the Officers Club in the capital on Friday night. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam, consultants on the Padma Bridge project, and senior officials of the concerned agencies were present on the occasion.
The ferry collided with the pillars of the Padma BridgeAccording to sources present at the meeting
it has been decided that the Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will regularly measure the current of the river and instruct the ferry to operate in the direction where the current is less. Silt somewhere in the river. Jamie or change the route of the ferry necessary, it – and those concerned in advance. Must be informed. BIWTA sources said that on Sunday, they will identify the route of the ferry on the river. Initially, the areas of pillars 3, 4, and 5 of Padma Bridge have been fixed to leave Shimulia. Pillar areas 5, 6, and 7 will be used as access roads. BIWTA chairman Comrade M Galam Sadeq told that a committee was working to look into the matter. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is the company responsible for operating the ferry.
According to the decision of the meeting, the responsibility will be given after making sure that the master and Sukani have the physical ability to operate the ferry. Corner ferries will not be allowed to operate with the slightest mechanical fault. If the flow of water in the river is two meters or more per second, the ferry should be stopped.
Due to strong currents, it collided with the pillars of Padma bridge
As a result of the restrictions, ferry traffic on the Shimulia-Banglabazar waterway may be slightly reduced. For this, BIWTC has requested to use more Paturia-Daulatdia waterways to reduce the pressure on this route. BIWTC Chairman Syed Mae. Tajul Islam told Alake that Master and Sukani would strictly abide by the rules of the ferry operation. The health of the people involved in the technical aspects and management of the ferry will be ensured. According to BIWTC sources, the Shipping Ministry’s investigation has revealed that a ferry that was pushed into the bridge’s pillar was carrying a hearing aid using a hearing aid. This is being seen as the extreme irresponsibility of the field officials. People involved in ferry operations have also been accused of saving and selling fuel oil. Sources said that they are thinking of installing equipment on the ferry to monitor the use of oil.
Meanwhile, the consultants of the Padma Bridge project said at the meeting that there is no danger of damage to the bridge due to the impact of the ferry. This is because the pillars of the bridge are designed to withstand the impact of heavy ships. Asked about the overall situation, Secretary of the Shipping Ministry Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury told that the ferry service will continue. However, all kinds of precautions have been taken.
