File photo of Padma Multi-Purpose Bridge project which is under construction since December 7, 2014 Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka TribuneBangladesh Railway’s other priority project Metro Rail work halted due to shortage of workersTwo of the government’s top priority projects – Padma Multi-Purpose Bridge and Padma Bridge Rail Link Project – continues to progress even at a time when the entire country has come to a standstill due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. “The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project and Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project have been continuing progress despite the coronavirus outbreak,” Wang Kun, spokesperson of China Railway Group Limited (CREC), the contractor of Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, said in a statement. At the same time, Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Padma Bridge Rail link project continues to progress in the consultation with the Bangladesh Army and by ensuring social distancing. “However, Bangladesh Railway’s other priority project, including the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Rail Link project has been halted by the local administration,” he added. Of the eight packages of the Metro Rail project, six packages were directly related to physical construction, which have been completely suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: Dhaka Tribune April 12, 2020 05:37 UTC