Almost half of the construction work in much-hyped Joydebpur-Mymensingh four-lane upgrading project is yet to be completed with only six months to go before inauguration of the 87km-long highway.
In February, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters that the project would be finished by December this year. In the middle of June, he had said: “The four-lane project work will be completed by March 2015.”
Around 47% construction work is yet to be done, as per the project’s latest progress report (until September 15) prepared by the Roads and Highways Department and signed by Project Director Hafizur Rahman. It was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office recently.
Hafizur yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “After placing the report to the PMO, more than 4% work has been complete. But it is not possible to complete the work within the scheduled time because of different reasons including crisis of construction materials and some instruments.”
He said they were trying their best.
The infrastructure project began in July 2010 under the supervision of the RHD with acquisition of some 8.66 hectors of land. Due to extension of the project deadline twice, the cost was re-estimated too. Finally, the cost is estimated at Tk1,815.12 crore.
The project work comprises four packages.
Construction of the first package, 12.25km Joydebpur intersection-Rajendrapur intersection, sees 47.54% completion while 51.82% of the second package – 17.6km road between Rajendrapur and Nayanpur.
Bangladesh Army’s Special Works Organisation (West) is implementing these two packages. Even though the project had begun in July 2010, the army was given the work in 2012.
According to the report, the army has been working smoothly, but the two other companies lagged behind, until February, when they started implementing the project quickly.
In the third package that involves 29.6km Nayanpur-Raimoni, 50.99% work has been finished while 60.55% in the fourth package of 27.32km stretch between Raimoni and Mymensingh.
The third package is being executed by China Major Bridges Company in association with local firm Project Builder’s Limited (PBL). The other package is being implemented by the consortium of MCC, SEL and Toma Construction Limited-JB.
With all these, the average progress of the construction of the four packages stands at 53.53%.
Secretary MAN Siddique said work in only package three was delayed while the others would be completed before the time frame.
“We have already arranged a meeting to solve this problem. We think it is also possible to complete within the stipulated time.”
About the slow progress of the project, the project director in the report pointed out at sluggish utility shifting, political instability, inadequate supply of money by the contractor, long absence of lead partner, insufficient supply of required equipment and lack of effective management.
PBL Chief Engineer Rafiqul Anam said: “We are responsible for constructing 30km of the project. There are different reasons behind the delay but now more than 50-60% work has been finished. The project cost was earlier estimated at Tk3bn but it will finally go up to Tk4bn.”
In the 2014-15 fiscal year, though the government allocated Tk397.94 crore for the project under the annual development programme (ADP), it has released only Tk99.49 core.
As of September 15, a total of Tk896.23 crore has been spent for the project.
