The road transport and bridges minister has told the parliament that all-out efforts are on to complete the construction work on the Padma bridge by December this year.
Obaidul Quader said, "Efforts are on to complete the bridge by December 2018 through installation of the remaining spans in phases alongside pile driving and installation of pair columns."
He said this while responding to a starred question from Awami League lawmaker Salina Begum (Reserved seat-6).
The minister, however, said the finalisation of the design of its piles is getting delayed slightly at 14 locations due to difference in the river's soil layers.
He said the process continues to solve the problems fast in consultation with local and foreign experts.
UNB also quoted Mr Quader as saying that the overall physical progress in the Padma Bridge project is 50 per cent.
One span (superstructure) of the bridge has already been installed while another will be installed this month, he informed.