Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said the Asian Highway would be completed under the present government as the construction works of the highway is progressing.‘Kalna Bridge, a missing link of the Asian Highway, also should be constructed to ensure the proper utilization of the Padma Bridge,’ he said this at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony as the chief guest at the Bridge Bhaban.The MoU was signed for appointing consultants for ‘Cross Border Road Network Improvement’ project.Quader said the construction works of the Kalna Bridge will start in March next after completing design and others preoperational works on the priority basis.Chief Engineer of Road and Highways Department Ebne Alam Hasan, leader of the lead partner of the consultant institutions Oriental Consultants Global Company Limited, Oriental Consultants Company Limited and PADCO Company Limited Atsushi Nishimura and General Manager Ryohei Ishii signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.The consultants companies were appointed at a cost of Taka 236 crore to monitor the implementation of the project.The minister said the Kalna Bridge will be built on the River Madhumati under this project at a cost of Taka 25,000 crore, including 17 bridges, seven culverts, one toll plaza and two excel load stations, with the financial assistance of Japan.Japan will provide Taka 1,900 crore out of 25,000 crore for implementing the project, he added.He, however, added that about Taka 672 crore will be spent for building four kilometers-long Kalna Bridge with four lanes.As per the MoU, SMEC International PTY Limited, Japan Bridge and Structure Institute In-corporation, ACE Consultants Limited, Development Design Consultants Limited and BCL Associations Limited will work as associate consultants.Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Mr. M. A. N. Siddique, Secretary of Bridge Division Khandker Anwarul Islam and Director of the Cross Border Road Network Improvement Project Engineer Md Ahmedur Rahman were present at the function, among others.Source: BSS