Soil removal near Padma Bridge pillars beneficial, no risk: Transport Minister

The removal of soil adjacent to the pillars of the Padma Bridge will not cause any damage to the bridge; rather, it will play a positive role in maintaining the natural flow of the river, navigability, and ecological balance, said Road Transport, Bridges, Shipping, and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam.

He made the remarks in response to questions from journalists at a dialogue organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat on Thursday.

Recently, videos and images showing soil removal near the pillars of the Padma Bridge circulated on social media, triggering various discussions and concerns. Regarding this, the minister clarified that the soil being removed is not part of the bridge's core structure and has no connection with its piles or pillars.

He explained that during the construction of the Padma Bridge, certain areas near the riverbank were temporarily filled with soil to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery, construction materials, and project-related vehicles. Although this soil was supposed to be removed after the completion of the project, the contractor in charge did not complete the work on time.

The minister noted that due to lying idle for a long time, grass grew on the filled soil, making it appear like permanent land to many. Now that the soil removal has commenced, some people are mistakenly assuming that the foundation or the base of the bridge's pillars is being damaged.

He stated that he had personally inquired about the matter and discussed it with army engineers and relevant experts of the Padma Bridge project. According to their opinion, there is no risk to the bridge from this soil removal. On the contrary, according to the feasibility study, removing the soil is necessary to maintain the natural water flow of the river, protect navigability, preserve ecological balance, and facilitate water movement.

Shaikh Rabiul Alam added that the clause for soil removal was included within the contractor's contract during the project implementation, and funds were also allocated for this purpose. However, due to the long delay, the matter has now created confusion among the public.

He said that if the work had been completed at the very beginning, no controversy would have arisen today. Some people think that the soil is being sold or removed for other purposes, but in reality, it is an incomplete task of the project which is being implemented now.

At the same event, the minister also made it clear that there is no scope for constructing any temporary structures under the Metro Rail. He stated that the government remains on high alert to ensure the security and sustainability of the country's mega infrastructure projects.