DHAKA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- About 76 percent construction work of the main structure of Bangladesh's biggest Padma Bridge has been completed, the country's Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Monday.
The minister disclosed the update while briefing journalists about the project's progress in Dhaka Monday.
In December 2015, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the main works of Padma Bridge project, the biggest of its kind for the country, by unveiling its foundation plaque.
In June 2014, the Bangladeshi government contracted China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited a 1.55 billion-U.S. dollar project to build core structure of the Padma Bridge.
Twelve among the total 41 spans of Padma bridge have so far been installed on the 6.15-km bridge, said the minister.
He said the 13th span will be installed within one or two days.
Apart from connecting nearly 30 million people in Bangladesh's southwest region to the rest of the country, the bridge will enhance regional trade and collaboration along the Asian highway No. 1 and the Trans-Asian railway network.
The bridge is one of Bangladesh's largest infrastructure projects, as well as the largest foreign bridge project undertaken by Chinese companies in terms of total cost.
