Country’s fast-track eight mega projects may miss implementation deadlineas, according to the officials of Ministry of Planning. Despite highest priority given by the government, works are going on at a very slow pace and there are loads of works to be done in time.
As a result, officials have raised questions about the implementation of these projects and apprehended that the projects may not be completed at the end of the project tenure.
Meanwhile, a review meeting was held at the Ministry of Railways recently. It expressed frustration over the progress in the construction of rail link to the Padma Bridge and Ramu-Ghumdhum single line dual gauge track.
Reviewing the fast track progress report, it has been seen that the cost of these projects has been estimated at Tk 2,77,887.54 crore while Tk 1,10,338.79 crore has been spent till August. Average progress of the projects stood at 42.97 percent due to coronavirus pandemic.
On the other hand, the average term has passed seven and a half years. In order to complete the projects by 100%, an average of 56.3% work is still left. As a result, more time will be needed to complete 8 first track development projects and the cost will increase with time, officials and experts feared.
Planning Minister MA Mannan said the mega projects, of course, were in fear of consuming more time and cost. Because the coronavirus pandemic has dealt a big blow to our development projects, he said.
However, the minister said, “If the spread of coronavirus situation is prolonged, the implementation progress of the projects will further worsen.” He said, “This problem is not only in Bangladesh but in the whole world. It must be accepted. It would not be unreasonable to increase the cost of completing fast-track projects. It must be understood.” The spread of coronavirus is not the same now every where but situation is improving. From small bridges and culverts to mega projects, the pandemic has an impact everywhere, he said.
Padma Bridge: The project started in January 2009. The term has been extended several times till June 2021. As such, the overall progress in the last 12 years and 7 months has been 81.25 percent. The term will expire in June next year and 18.75 percent work will have to be implemented in the next 10 months. In the meantime, people involved in the project have said that the term has to be extended due to various reasons including coronavirus pandemic.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: The project started in July 2016. The term will end in December 2025. In the last 4 years, there has been 28.55 percent progress. In order to implement 100% of the project, 71.45% work will have to be completed in the next 5 years.
Rampal Power Project: The implementation period of the Rampal project started in July 2009. The work was supposed to be completed in June this year. But in the last 11 years till August, the progress of the project has been 50.63 percent and still 49.37percent work is yet to be done.
Metro Rail: Its implementation period started in July 2012 and expected to be completed by June 2024. But in the last eight years, 51.97 percent work has been implemented and remaining 48.97 percent will have to be implemented in the next 4 years.
Pyra Deep Seaport: The implementation period of this project started in July 2015. It will end in June 2021. A total of 71.38 percent project work has been implemented in the last 5 years from the beginning. In order to complete 100% of the work, remaining 28.62% work will have to be implemented in the next one year.
Rail Link of Padma Bridge: The implementation period of the project started in January 2016. The term will end in June 2024. From the beginning in the last 4 and a half years, the progress of the project has been 25.23 percent. In order to complete 100% of the work, 74.77% work will have to be implemented in the next 4 years.
Construction of single line dual gauge track from Dohazari-Ramu to Cox's Bazar and Ramu to Ghumdhum: The project started in July 2010 and will end in June 2022. Progress has been 42 percent in the last 10 years from the beginning. If 100% is to be implemented, rest of the 58% work will have to be implemented in the next 2 years.
Matarbari Power Station: The implementation period of this project started from July 2014. It will end in June 2023. A total of 32.8 percent project work has been completed in the last 6 years from the beginning. In order to complete 100% of the project work in the next 3 years, remaining 67.2% project work have to be done.
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