Padma multipurpose bridge
Delays cause 40pc cost escalation
Third revised DPP to be placed before ECNEC today
JAGARAN CHAKMA
The third Revised Detailed Project Proposal (RDPP) of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) is going to be tabled at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval, for the project cost has increased by a further Tk. 8,286.35 croreor nearly 40 per centas a result of delays in its implementation.
According to the RDPP, the cost of the Padma bridge project will reach Tk. 28,793.38 crore, which is Tk. 8,286.35 crore higher than the second revised cost estimate for the project.
The cost of construction of the main bridge is estimated at Tk. 12,133 crore, while Tk. 8,707.81 crore has been allotted for river training, Tk. 1,097.39 crore for Jajira link road, Tk. 193.40 crore for Mawa link road, Tk. 208.71 crore for site development, Tk. 516.64 crore for monitoring the cost in phases, Tk. 1,515 crore for rehabilitation of the people in the adjoining areas of the site, and Tk. 129 crore for environment management.
The authorities concerned indicated that the World Banks allegations of corruption in the project have caused delays in implementation, thereby escalating the project cost.
When the initial project was approved on August 20, 2007, the cost for the project was estimated at Tk. 10,161 crore.
However, it did not include the cost of railway lines on the bridge. After the first revision in January 2011, the estimated cost stood at Tk. 20,507 crore, which included rail tracks on the bridge.
In July last year, the Bridges Division sent the latest estimate to the Planning Commission, to be placed before the ECNEC for approval. But the commission demanded some clarifications from the division regarding the cost escalation.
According to the RDPP, the duration of the project is also to be increased by four years from the original schedule of completion.
The project is running four years behind schedule, after the WB withdrew its USD 1.2-billion loan in 2012 over allegations of corruption conspiracies involving top government officials and a Canadian consultancy firm. The government then moved to build the bridge with its own funds.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed by this year. But it is now expected to be completed by 2019.
Regarding the additional allocation, the Bridges Division pointed out several reasons, including the higher cost of construction materials and consultancy services, and recruitment of more personnel for implementing the project in due time.
