8 fast-track projects in fast lane 

Eight fast-track projects undertaken by the government are picking up pace as the construction works on them are going on in full swing, according to a November progress report prepared by the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the Planning Commission.

These fast-track projects saw an overall progress of 75.50 per cent till November this year, the report said, adding that its financial progress was 66.09 per cent.

The projects are: Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Payra port, Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail link, Rampal super thermal power plant, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development project (MRT-6), Padma rail link, Matarbari 2x600mw ultra-super critical coal-fired power and Maitree super thermal power plant project.

“A portion of Uttara to Agargaon of Metro Rail Service (MRT-6) is scheduled to be opened by this December. The construction works of eight fast-track projects are going on in full swing as priority projects of the incumbent government,” a senior IMED official said.

“The IMED has sent the progress report on the fast-track projects to the ministries concerned, asking them to speed up the implementation of these projects aiming to complete them in a stipulated time,” he added.     

Padma Multipurpose Bridge

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge opened to traffic on June 25. But 100 per cent work of the project has not been completed yet. The physical progress of the project was 95.50 per cent while the financial progress was 94.52 per cent in November. The ancillary works of the project will be completed in June 2023.

The project cost is estimated at Tk 30,193.39 crore while the construction works started in November 2014. Till November, Tk 28,538.77 crore has been spent on the project.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

The work on the biggest-ever Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project is going on  in full swing. The financial progress of the project is 50.59 per cent while its physical progress is 52.90 per cent.

Metro Rail Service (MRT-6)

The work of metro rail from Uttara to Agargaon has been almost completed. It is likely to open this December. The route from Agargaon to Kamalapur is now under construction. The IMED report said the financial progress of the project is 61.36 per cent while its physical progress is 65 per cent.

However, the government increased the project cost to Tk 33,471 crore to extend the line from Motijheel to Kamalapur. The tenure of the project has also been extended until June 2024.

Padma rail link project

The work of the Padma rail link project is progressing fast. The financial progress of the project is 66.33 per cent while its physical progress is 67 per cent.

Payra seaport

The financial progress of the Payra seaport is 82 per cent while its physical progress is 87.71 per cent.

Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar-Dohazari rail line project

The physical progress of the project is 77 per cent while its financial progress is 39.37 per cent.

Rampal Power Plant

The power plant, also known as Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant project, has two units with 660MW production capacity each. The project has not been included in the annual development programme (ADP).

The physical progress of the project is 89.58 per cent while its financial progress is 78.53 per cent. The project cost is estimated at Tk 16,000 crore.

Matarbari Power Plant

The Matarbari Power Plant project has achieved 69.26 per cent physical progress while its financial progress is 56.08 per cent.