ECNEC nods 4th revision of Dhaka-Ctg 4-lane highway
Project extended by a year, cost increases by Tk 626cr
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved the fourth revision of the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway, increasing the cost of the project by around Tk 626 crore to Tk 3,816.94 crore and extended the project duration by one year to December 2016. The approval came during an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of the city with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal informed that a total of nine projects had been approved in the meeting, worth nearly Tk 4,961.42 crore. Of the total project cost, Tk 4,945.09 crore will come from the state exchequer while the rest of Tk 16.33 crore from the organizations own fund. On the extended time frame, the Planning Minister said the project had faced various obstacles and it would now be possible to complete it by this year. Regarding the cost escalation by nearly 20 per cent, he stated that the implementing agency had to acquire some areas afresh, besides unavailability of earth. However, Mustafa Kamal remarked that the Road Transport and Bridges Minister is optimistic about opening the countrys most important road that connects the port city of Chittagong and Dhaka by this May or June. He informed that the proposed Dhaka-Chittagong Elevated Expressway would be built in parallel with this four-lane, which would contribute to the national economy and boost GDP growth. He said the Prime Minister directed the Planning Commission to undertake the project for Dhaka-Chittagong Elevated Expressway project.
The Planning Minister said that changes in the rate schedule, along with fresh land acquisition, has pushed up the project cost.
In reply to another question, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been apprised of the project, believed it would be completed within the fresh timeframe. He also joked that the project cost has increased along with life expectancy of the people of the country.
Mustafa Kamal told another questioner that a project would be undertaken to complete and further extend the flyovers being built under the four-lane project to ease traffic congestion. In 2006, the government had approved the project, to be completed by June 2012, at a cost of Tk. 2,168.38 crore from Daudkandi toll plaza to Chittagong city gate with a four-lane highway at a length of 192.30 kilometer to ensure uninterrupted communication between the capital and the port city. Later, the project was revised for the first time, increasing the cost to Tk. 2,382.17 crore in 2009 due to the correction of the project profile and changes in its cross-sectional design. In March 2013, the ECNEC revised the project for the second time, hiking the cost to Tk. 3,190.29 crore, with the aim to complete it by December 2014. The days ECNEC meeting also gave a nod to the Establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre, Rajshahi with Tk 222.03 crore to be completed by June, 2018. The Planning Minister informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to establish a similar Novo Theatre in Chittagong and then other divisional headquarters. The other projects approved in the meeting included establishment of 12 barracks at various units of Bangladesh Police with Tk 219.17 crore, construction of 456 flats for government officials and employees at Malibagh in Dhaka with Tk 194.69 crore, construction of 288 residential flats for officials and employees of Department of Public Works at Mirpur 6 section for Tk 120.14 crore, development of roads, drains and footpaths of Comilla City Corporation for Tk 81.66 crore, renovation of water supply system at Rajshahi metropolis for Tk 67.50 crore, Construction of 282.558 meter long PC girder bridge over River Banar on Mymensingh-Gafargaon Tok road for Tk 43.71 crore and Development of Faridpur (Maizkandi)-Boalmari-Gopalganj (Bhatiapara) road including development of Sosrail-Alafdanga road development at Tk 195.58 crore. Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting, while Planning Commission members and concerned secretaries were also present.
