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The government initiated a project to widen the Narayanganj Link Road, an eight-kilometre regional road connecting Narayanganj city with Dhaka, in 2020 but the project remains incomplete despite a time extension until June of this year.
The use of sub-standard materials, including stones and bitumen, as well as a lack of proper safety measures in the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) project, worth Tk 449 crore, has been revealed in a report by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Ministry.
Furthermore, the under-construction road falls short of the required width, leaving an exposed portion that generates dust year-round, posing health hazards to locals and polluting the environment.
Moreover, the Development Project Proposal (DPP) indicates that the construction cost for the project has increased by 175% compared to the estimated cost in the feasibility study. Both studies failed to adequately conduct a topographic survey, resulting in neglect of the 4.20-meter wide pavement.
These findings were recently disclosed in the extensive monitoring report on the development project published by the IMED.
The government approved the project, officially named "Upgrading Narayanganj Link Road (from Signboard to Chashara) into six-lane," in January 2020 with a deadline set for June 2022. The deadline was extended once without cost acceleration, and currently, 75% of the work has been completed.
The primary tasks under the project involve widening and strengthening the 7.70km road, including the construction of hard shoulders on both sides, a 5.5-meter wide service road, a 405-metre long rigid pavement, a 96-metre long RCC box culvert, three U-turns, two footbridges, eight kilometres of drains and footpaths, an eight-kilometre road median, and the installation of street lights.
According to the IMED, the overall quality of construction is satisfactory, with a few exceptions. However, the usage of sub-standard materials thus far will significantly reduce the road's service life.
The report identifies several reasons for the project missing two deadlines and the likelihood of further time extensions. These include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, delays in shifting utility lines, the relocation of certain establishments, and the presence of large quantities of garbage.
Additionally, there remains an unresolved complication with the Bangladesh Army regarding land boundary settlement, which will further prolong the project's completion.
Concerns regarding construction materials' quality
The joint venture of National Development Engineers Ltd, Taher Brothers Ltd, and Hassan Techno Builders Ltd (JV) was awarded the tender for the government-funded Narayanganj Link Road widening project. The IMED made some observations on the construction quality.
The IMED highlighted that a section of the footpath was improperly aligned with the road, resulting in a curved footpath.
During their inspection, the IMED team discovered issues with the 96-metre RCC box culvert completed by the contractors. They found honeycombing on the culvert's railing, characterised by a rough and stony surface caused by air voids between the course and aggregate. Insufficient fine materials in the concrete mixture due to poor mixing or incorrect aggregate grading led to this problem. Additionally, cracks were visible on the culvert's surface.
Further observations revealed that iron rods being used for the project had gathered rust due to improper storage at the stockyard. Additionally, there was no project engineer present on-site, and the laboratory lacked the necessary testing equipment.
According to the project provisions, contractors are required to obtain "source approval" from the authorities before procuring construction materials such as rods, cement, sand, bricks, and bitumen. However, no such approval was obtained for this project. For instance, stones used in the project were not subjected to the necessary tests to ensure quality standards and obtain approval.
Sub-standard materials were also found in the bitumen used. The project specifications called for the use of 60/70 Penetration Grade bitumen, preferably sourced from the Bangladesh Eastern Refinery. However, Iranian bitumen with lower viscosity, ductility, elasticity, and softening point than the standard was used in some sections. The bitumen was imported from Dubai, falling short of Bangladeshi standards. The IMED expressed concerns that this bitumen may lead to rutting and bulging on the asphalt pavement. The concrete used for the project was also deemed inadequate, as the contractor did not adhere to proper height limits for concrete welding.
During their field visits, the IMED found that the construction company did not conduct regular material tests at the on-site laboratory before utilisation.
Causes of project delays
In May 2021, the authorities allocated Tk 22.66 crore to the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) for the removal of electric poles from Matual and Sanarpar, creating space for the construction of two U-turns under the project. Despite multiple discussions between the local project implementation authorities and the DPDC, the work remains unfinished, with the DPDC showing reluctance.
The IMED also noted that the Narayanganj City Corporation is responsible for removing water lines owned by WASA located on the right side of the road, a task that is yet to be completed.
The removal of two filling stations at the Signboard intersection took eight months due to the presence of gas lines and high-voltage electric lines, requiring time for removal. Furthermore, from Signboard to Chashara, various obstacles such as slums, shops, markets, mosques, and shrines needed to be cleared to make space for road widening.
The authorities required time and faced challenges in their efforts to remove these structures.
During excavation for construction, workers encountered garbage buried under 20-25 feet of soil in at least five spots along the road, necessitating additional time for removal.
Construction work has not commenced at a particular site due to ongoing boundary disputes between the RHD and the Bangladesh Army. Despite several discussions between the two parties, a resolution has yet to be reached.
