Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
The Dhaka-Mymensingh four-lane highway will formally open to traffic by September, officials said.
They said, almost 90 percent construction work of the 87km-long highway project has already been completed after extension of its deadline twice by the authorities concerned.
The unexpected delay in projects’ implementation has led to unbearable sufferings to the commuters travelling by the highway everyday.
Earlier, the government promised to open the four-lane highway along with Mawa Flyover for traffic in June this year.
“We have already completed 90 percent work of the project and hopefully it will be formally opened for traffic by September this year,” Hafizur Rahman, Project Director (PD) of the Highway told The New Nation on Monday.
He added the construction work for upgrading the highway into four lanes was going on full swing with removal of all the hindrances. The contractors had already completed work of 75-km of the highway out of 87-km.
“The work of the remaining 12-km highway will be completed as soon as possible,” he further said.
Hafizur Rahman also said that the Roads and Highway Department (RHD) is implementing the project under four packages. Contractors of one, two and four packages have already finished their jobs. The contractor of third package is yet to complete its task leading to delay in project implementation.
The third package which is being implemented by China Major Bridges Company with its local partner Project Builders Ltd (PBL) caused a delay, forcing the RHD to extend the deadline twice.
The other package is being implemented by the consortium of MCC, SEL and Toma Construction Limited-JB.
“We are trying to gear up the construction work under package number three so that we can complete the highway within the said period,” he added.
When asked, he said, the project is receiving necessary funds from the government as it wants to complete the project on priority basis.
“We would have been happy if we could have completed the project in time. But we failed to do it due to various reasons,” said Hafizur Rahman.
According to him, sluggish utility shifting, political instability, inadequate supply of money by the contractor, long absence of lead partner, insufficient supply of required equipment and materials and lack of effective management are responsible for the slow progress of the project.
He, however, said that once the project is completed, people will be able to go to Mymensingh from Dhaka in one and a half an hours.
The infrastructure project began in July 2010 under the supervision of RHD with acquisition of some 8.66 hectares of land. The cost of the project has been re-estimated for Tk1,815.12 crore due to extension of the project deadline twice.
The Dhaka-Mymensingh four-lane highway will formally open to traffic by September, officials said.
They said, almost 90 percent construction work of the 87km-long highway project has already been completed after extension of its deadline twice by the authorities concerned.
The unexpected delay in projects’ implementation has led to unbearable sufferings to the commuters travelling by the highway everyday.
Earlier, the government promised to open the four-lane highway along with Mawa Flyover for traffic in June this year.
“We have already completed 90 percent work of the project and hopefully it will be formally opened for traffic by September this year,” Hafizur Rahman, Project Director (PD) of the Highway told The New Nation on Monday.
He added the construction work for upgrading the highway into four lanes was going on full swing with removal of all the hindrances. The contractors had already completed work of 75-km of the highway out of 87-km.
“The work of the remaining 12-km highway will be completed as soon as possible,” he further said.
Hafizur Rahman also said that the Roads and Highway Department (RHD) is implementing the project under four packages. Contractors of one, two and four packages have already finished their jobs. The contractor of third package is yet to complete its task leading to delay in project implementation.
The third package which is being implemented by China Major Bridges Company with its local partner Project Builders Ltd (PBL) caused a delay, forcing the RHD to extend the deadline twice.
The other package is being implemented by the consortium of MCC, SEL and Toma Construction Limited-JB.
“We are trying to gear up the construction work under package number three so that we can complete the highway within the said period,” he added.
When asked, he said, the project is receiving necessary funds from the government as it wants to complete the project on priority basis.
“We would have been happy if we could have completed the project in time. But we failed to do it due to various reasons,” said Hafizur Rahman.
According to him, sluggish utility shifting, political instability, inadequate supply of money by the contractor, long absence of lead partner, insufficient supply of required equipment and materials and lack of effective management are responsible for the slow progress of the project.
He, however, said that once the project is completed, people will be able to go to Mymensingh from Dhaka in one and a half an hours.
The infrastructure project began in July 2010 under the supervision of RHD with acquisition of some 8.66 hectares of land. The cost of the project has been re-estimated for Tk1,815.12 crore due to extension of the project deadline twice.
