DHAKA:  Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang was astonished today over the progress of the much-awaited Padma Bridge work as she visited its construction sites at Mawa in Munshiganj and Janzira in Shariatpur.

“I’m really “surprised” over the gigantic work of the bridge … as so much of changes took place in the area, I cannot recognize anything. I could not have understood it, had I not come here today,” she told officials involved in the work after visiting the sites.

Though she visited both Mawa and Janzira points of the bridge, she spent most of the time at Mawa point.

Besides inspecting the project area, the Chinese envoy held a meeting with the officials of the China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation, which was appointed for constructing the main bridge.

Mingqiang, who earlier inspected the project sites nearly one year back, enquired about the progress and problems of the mega project and expressed satisfaction after seeing the gigantic work.

Apart from visiting the piling work in the Padma River and rive training work, she also visited construction yards and Service Area at Dogachhi.

The Chinese envoy reached Janzira point of the bridge by a speedboat and held a meeting with the officials of the China’s Sinohydro Corporation which was appointed for the river training work.

The 6.15 kilometre two-tier Padma Bridge having provisions for movement of vehicles on the upper tier of the bridge and operation of trains on the lower tier would be built with concrete and steel structure.

After completion, the bridge, designed to carry a highway and rail line, will connect 19 southern districts with the capital.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on December 12 opened the groundbreaking of the main bridge construction and river training works at Janzira in Shariatpur and Mawa in Munshiganj.

On November 12 in 2013, the Premier inaugurated the approach roads on Janzira and Mawa sides as well as the Service Area-2 work.

The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic by 2018, officials said.

The government is building the Padma Bridge, the country’s largest infrastructure, with its own funds of Tk 28,793.39 crore.

The work on the Padma Bridge is broadly divided into five parts — the main bridge, river training, two link roads and infrastructure (service area) construction.

The bridge will have a total of 42 pillars. Each will have six piles beneath. Steel spans will be placed on the pillars. The bridge will have a total of 41 spans.

Bangladesh’s Abdul Monem Limited was given the contract for the two approach roads and infrastructure construction.

Bangladesh Army, Buet and Korea Expressway Corporation and Associates are supervising construction of the bridge that is expected to boost the country’s trade, and development and economic activities.