Over a dozen important railways and road infrastructure projects missed deadlines in June this year, delaying the benefit from their utility, while raising project costs.
Projects for construction of Padma Rail Link and rail links on different railway routes, support to Joydebpur-Debgram-Bhulta-Madanpur road (Dhaka Bypass) and Axle Load control centres on important highways are among these initiatives.聽
Extension of deadlines for these projects are under process now, said the officials concerned.
Extending the deadlines on one hand would result in delaying the impact of their benefit, while on the other, would increase the project expenses and set bad examples, observed experts, who also said that such situations might discourage the donors in investing in infrastructure projects in future.
According to the project progress report of the Bangladesh Railway under the railways ministry, total 32 railway projects are ongoing currently.聽
Among these, the construction of Padma Rail Link; construction of rail links on Dohazari-Cox鈥檚 Bazar section; on Akhaura-Agartala section (Bangladesh portion); on Bogura to Shahid M Mansur Ali Station in Sirajganj section under Indian Line of Credit; on Madhukhali-Magura section via Kamarkhali; and on Chilahati-Chilahati Border section for connectivity with India; rehabilitation, construction and upgradation of important level crossing gates in the east and west zones; procurement of 200 meter gauge carriages; rehabilitation of 100 meter gauge carriages; rolling stock operations improvement project; and technical assistance project to improve energy efficiency of rolling stock operation missed deadlines on June 30.
Under the Roads and Highways Department of the road transport and bridges ministry, three projects鈥擲upport to Joydebpur-Debgram-Bhulta-Madanpur road (Dhaka Bypass) project; construction of three underpasses on the Dhaka-Chattogram National High way and U-Loop at Paduar Bazar intersection project; and construction of Axle Load control centres at the source points of important highways for goods-laden vehicles project鈥攎issed deadlines on June 30. Of these the Dhaka Bypass project is being implemented under a public-private partnership.
The railway has been setting up a 169-kilometre rail track under the fast-track Padma Bridge Rail Link project between Dhaka and Jashore via Padma Bridge at a cost of Tk 39,246 crore.
The Export-Import Bank of China is funding Tk 21,036.69 crore of the cost with the Bangladesh government spending the rest of Tk 18,210.11 crore.
In November 2023, train operation started on the line.聽
The 102km single-dual-gauge line on the Dohazari-Cox鈥檚 Bazar section on the Dohazari-Satkania-Lohagara-Harbang-Chakaria-Dulahazra-Islamabad-Ramu-Cox鈥檚 Bazar route is under construction.
Train operation on the line started in November last year.
Railways minister Zillul Hakim told 抖阴精品 on Monday that some donor-funded projects missed the deadlines as project offices did not receive funds in time.聽
Bangladesh Railway director general Sardar Shahdat Ali same day said that the reasons behind missing deadlines were different for different projects.
Having mentioned that the Padma Rail Link project is at the last stage, he said that they had sent all documents to the Export-Import Bank of China for approval.
鈥楢 team from the bank is scheduled to inspect the entire project soon and after that they will give their opinions,鈥� he said.
Shahadat also gave examples that the projects to rehabilitate, construct and upgrade important level crossing gates were extended by one year each due to workforce related problems.
The donor-funded projects had some complexities and lengthy procedures for which some of them missed deadlines, he added.
Road Transport and Highways Division secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri told 抖阴精品 on Monday that they had extended deadlines for all the three projects that missed deadlines.
鈥榃e need to acquire more land for the bypass and axle load projects,鈥� he said and added that the construction of three underpasses would be adjusted with the extension of the Dhaka-Chattogram national highway project.聽
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology professor Shamsul Hoque said that the trend of missing deadlines caused escalation in the cost.
鈥楾he more extension is given to the projects the less their utilities become,鈥� he said and added that extension of projects also discouraged foreign donors to invest in future projects especially for those implemented under public-private partnerships.
The government should be more active to complete the projects in time, he added.
