A revised Road Transport and Highway Division proposal for the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway will raise the project’s cost byTk28.72cr, official sources said.
The project will now cost Tk165.54cr instead of the Tk136.82cr previously estimated.
Signed by Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary MAN Siddique, the proposal showed cost increases for the building of four small bridges and a railway overpass because of revisions in structural design, pavement design and repairs.
The proposal for the Dhaka-Chittagong 4-lane Highway Upgradation Project Package Number 2, includes updated costing for Lalpur Bridge, Lemua Bridge, Muhury Bridge, Dhumghat Bridge and the Chittagong Rail Crossing Overpass.
It will likely be placed today before the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase which is presided over by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
As per the agreement with contractor Gannon Dunkerley and Company, Ltd the cost of Package Number 2 was earlier set at Tk136.82cr. According to the recommendations of the Road Transport and Highway Division, the project cost will rise by Tk28.72cr to Tk165.54cr.
According to the revised proposal, at least 51.47% of physical progress had been achieved in constructing 10 segments, technically referred to as packages, of the road. Progress in constructing two bridges under the assigned portion of the highway was 59.2%.
Work on the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane project has been going on for the past eight years.
At the start of last year, the government listed the project as a fast-track development project.
Some months ago, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said: “The project – despite being a priority project – has faced tender cancellations twice and changes of project director 11 times.”
Obaidul said the project would definitely be completed within the present government’s tenure. Last year he told a parliamentary watchdog body that his ministry would do everything possible to finish the project early.
He previously told parliament that the project would be completed by December 2014.
