Contract signed for construction of Kewatkhali Bridge 

The contract for the construction of Kewatkhali Bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh was signed today. 

The estimated contract value for the construction work is Tk2,138 crore, and the duration of the contract is three years.

Road Transport and Highways Division secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri was present during the contract signing event for the project's sole package at Sarak Bhaban in the capital.

Noor E-Alam, project director for the Kewatkhali Bridge construction project, and SU YAN, authorised representative of China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Spectra Engineers Limited, signed the agreement on behalf of the Roads and Highways Division and the joint venture contractor company respectively.

On 17 August, 2016, at a meeting on "Mymensingh Divisional City Development" held at the Chameli Hall of Prime Minister's Office, under the chairmanship of the prime minister, a decision was taken to build three new bridges over the Brahmaputra River (at Zero Point, Khagdahar area and near the existing railway bridge) to connect with the new city.

Following the prime minister's instructions, a feasibility study and design for the construction of a steel arch bridge in the vicinity of the existing railway bridge was approved by the ECNEC on 24 August, 2021, titled "Construction of Kewatkhali Bridge at Mymensingh".

The total approved estimated cost of the project is Tk3,263.63 crore. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will provide loans worth Tk1,909.79 crore and the government will provide the remaining amount from its own fund.

The main component of the project includes the construction of a 1.1km bridge, including a 320m steel arch bridge over the Brahmaputra River.

The designed 320m long 3-span steel arch bridge has a span length of 180m. This steel arch bridge is going to be built as the second and largest steel arch bridge built in Bangladesh.

Under this project, pillars will be installed on the two banks of the Brahmaputra River, so there will be no obstruction to water flow.

In addition, under this construction package, three road overpasses with a length of 670.80m, two railway overpasses with a length of 240m, 4-lane highway with 6.20km of SMVT (Slow Moving Vehicular Traffic) lane, a toll plaza adjacent to the main bridge and a rest area with a tourist center will be constructed.

For the purpose of monitoring the steel arch bridge after construction, a Bridge Health Monitoring System will also be implemented.