Bangladesh lacks technicalknow-how and any efficient firm or contractor of international standard toimplement the Padma Bridge project, engineers have said.
If the country is to carry on theproject on its own fund, it will have to hire technical and engineeringsupports from developed countries at relatively high rate, they said.
Moreover, delay, even by sixmonths, in constructing the $2.9 billion Padma Bridge would escalate theproject's cost by 7 to 8 percent, they added.
Talking to the New Nation, chiefof the technical evaluation committee for the project Prof Jamilur RezaChoudhury said, "Bangladesh does not have any efficient contractor ofqualified standard even for laying the foundation of the bridge."
Hence, it would have to hirecontractor and technical support from foreign countries, which could be costly,he added.
However, the leading engineer ofthe country hoped that if the country can manage finance, this would not be anyproblem.
Prof Jamilur is doubtful of thebridge's construction in the near future. He, however, sees China as the silverlining. "If the government can make a successful negotiation with Chinathere could be a chance," he opined.