Even after twice extending the deadline of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Four-Lane Highway Project, its progress is very poor. Only 62 percent of the project has so far been completed.
It has triggered doubts among project officials whether the rest could be implemented by March 31 this year, prompting them to apply to extend the deadline for the third time.
Seeking anonymity, project supervisors and other officials said they did not have the adequate amount of bricks and bitumen and so the construction work was now slowing down.
Roads and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated a bridge over the Khiru river and another over the Barek river on May 10 last year.
Both the bridges could not be used because there was no approach roads to the bridges, causing huge sufferings to commuters, especially pedestrians.
Alam Asia Paribahan’s truck driver Mokhles said he needed around seven to eight hours to reach Gazipur’s Joydevpur due to the horrible road conditions while it could be done much less than that time. Mymensingh Palli Bidyut Samity 2 Storekeeper Nazrul Islam said they were failing to bring in any electricity pole to expand the power lines here due to the awful road conditions at Bhaluka’s Seed Store.
Joydevpur-Mymensingh Four-Lane Highway Project Director Hafizur Rahman said there was scarcity of construction materials, including bricks and bitumen, and so the work had slowed down for 15 days. The project director said it was not possible to say for sure until late into the next month whether the project could be implemented within the present deadline.
