Works of 8 mega projects progress fast targeting polls

At a cost of Tk 197,000cr

Mahfuja Mukul: Implementation of eight mega projects under fast track is getting special importance ahead of national elections. The government is always keeping an eye on the progress of the project. Tk 197,042.36 crore has been spent under these projects from the beginning till last May. The average physical progress of the projects stood at 81.35 percent and financial progress at 69.73 percent.
The total expenditure for the implementation of these projects has been estimated at Tk 306,268.92 crore. Although the Padma Bridge and Metrorail (partial) have been inaugurated, there is still some time left for the completion of the project. In the meantime, the cost of the Padma Bridge project has increased. These facts have emerged in the recently prepared Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) progress report.
The projects are – Padma Bridge, Metrorail, Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, Rampal Power Project, Matarbari Power Project, Payra Deep Sea Port, Rail Link at Padma Bridge and Single Line Dual Gauge Track Construction Project from Dohazari-Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and Ramu-Ramu to Ghumdhum near Myanmar.
Padma Bridge: The Padma Bridge project was inaugurated on June 25 last year. But till now the work of the project is not 100% completed. Tk 28,766.24 crore has been spent under the project till last May. Financial progress stands at 88.23 percent. The physical progress of the entire project is 98 percent. A total expenditure of Tk 30,193.39 crore has been estimated for its implementation.
The project started operations in January 2009. The period has been extended several times. In the meantime, last Thursday the expenditure was increased by Tk 1,117.97 crore. This proposal was approved in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
Metrorail: The Uttara-Agargaon section of the much-anticipated Metrorail project was inaugurated on December 28 last year. This section has been opened for public movement from December 29 at scheduled times. But the completion of the entire project will have to wait till December 2025.
Those concerned are hoping that the second part may be opened up to Motijheel by the end of this year. Tk 21,884.09 crore has been spent under the project from the beginning till May. Financial progress has been 65.38 percent. Apart from this, the physical progress is 77 percent. The total cost of implementing the project, including the revised cost, stands at Tk 33,471.99 crore.
Scheduled to be completed between July 2012 and June 2024. But the second amendment extended the period till December 2025 with the increase in expenditure. Its original cost was Tk 21,985 crores. Due to addition of additional section from Motijheel to Kamalapur, this cost and duration has increased.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Project: The most expensive project in the country is Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The physical progress of the project has stood at 55.59 percent since inception till May. Tk 59,943.35 crore has been spent so far under the project. In this case, financial progress has been 53 percent and physical progress has been 55.59 percent. Tk 113,092.91 crore is being spent on the implementation of the project. The project is targeted for implementation between July 2016 and December 2025. The production target of the first unit of this power project was by the end of this year. But the plant’s production is lagging behind due to delays in transmission line work due to the Covid pandemic. Due to this, the Rooppur project can come into production by the end of 2024. Along with that, the complexity of paying the current debt has not been completely resolved yet.
Rail Road to Padma Bridge: According to the report of IMED, Tk 28,512.08 crore has been spent on the project of rail connection to Padma Bridge till last May. The financial progress of the project has been 72.65 percent. Apart from this, the physical progress has been 77 percent. Its implementation will cost a total of Tk 39,246 crores. The project is targeted for implementation between January 2016 and June 2024.
Maheshkhali-Matarbari integrated program:Maheshkhali-Matarbari integrated infrastructure development program (with 12 projects) The cost of the project is estimated at Tk 51,854.88 crore. Implementation is targeted between July 2014 and June 2026. Tk 32,661.19 crore has been spent till last May. Financial progress is 62.99 percent and overall progress stands at 76.30 percent.
Rampal Power Project: Its implementation is costing Tk 16,000 crore. Tk 14,063 crore have been spent till last May. Financial progress stands at 87.89 percent. Physical progress has been 92.72 percent.
Payra Deep Sea Port: This project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 4,374 crore. Tk 3,625.90 crore has been spent till last May. Financial progress was 82.89 percent and physical progress stood at 89.84 percent.
Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar-Gundum Railway: Single line dual gauge track construction project through Dohazari-Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and Ramu-Myanmar to Ghundhum near Tk 18,034.48 crore. Tk 7,730.88 crore has been spent till last May. The financial progress of the project has been 42.87 percent. Apart from this, the physical progress has been 85 percent.
In this context, Planning Minister MA Mannan told, “Some mega projects are already in the implementation stage. Some will be implemented soon. Some projects are in progress. People are interested in big projects. The government also has special attention. The progress in all these projects is being reviewed in depth.
The minister also said that special importance has been given to these projects in the allocation of funds in the ADP of the next financial year. We always try not to hinder the implementation of these mega projects in any way.