The Padma Bridge project, a major project across the Padma River in Bangladesh, which is being constructed by China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (Photo: Hubei Daily / Xia Beichen)

The Padma Bridge project, a multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River in Bangladesh, completed closure on December 10, 2020. The construction of the bridge is expected to finish at the end of 2021.

The bridge, with an estimated investment of 10 billion yuan, is being constructed by the Wuhan-based China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Co, Ltd (MBEC). It is the country's largest infrastructure project, as well as the largest foreign bridge project undertaken by Chinese companies in terms of total cost, which plays an important role in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Upon completion, the bridge will have two levels, with the upper tier having a four-lane highway and the lower tier a single track railway. The 6.15-kilometer bridge will connect southwestern Bangladesh's 21 districts with the country's capital Dhaka, and become a vital link between southwest Bangladesh and the northeast of the country.(en.hubei.gov.cn by Zhang Yawei)