Almost all the mega projects of Bangladesh have missed execution deadlines due to inadequate resource allocation, lack of skills and delays in land acquisition ultimately leading to massive cost escalation. The inflated costs and delays in completion of what the government terms as ‘fast track’ projects, eventually impact on the overall utility of these projects, insiders said.
A media report in a national daily on Saturday said that of the mega projects, excepting only two, have been revised on several occasions so far. They include the Padma Bridge, its rail link, Rampal power plant, Pyra seaport development, Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar-Ghundum railway route, and Matarbari power plant projects.
The Padma Bridge construction was approved at a cost of Tk 101.61 billion back in August 2007. Its cost now stands at Tk 301.93 billion. The World Bank withdrew its financing from the Padma Bridge project over allegations of corruption. Later, the government decided to construct the bridge with its own funds. As reported, only two fast track mega projects – Metro Rail Project (Mass Rapid Transit line- 6) and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant – are on track, needing no revision. The MRT is progressing well and the entire Uttara-Agargaon-Farmgate-Motijheel 20.1km line may be implemented by the stipulated deadline in June 2024, project insiders said.
According to experts, the government will have to face major challenges to meet the projects’ deadlines. In addition, there are concerns at home and abroad about a number of the fast track projects like Rooppur nuclear power plant and Rampal coal-fired power plant as they pose environmental risks. A member of the Planning Commission’s General Economic Department said it would not be possible to achieve 10 percent of the GDP growth, if these mega projects are not completed soon. The priority of these projects never diminished but these are not expected to be completed on time. The deadline of implementation of a project may change, if unavoidable. But such costly projects almost never be completed in time for making more money. Normally the contractors are to be penalised. But we are very considerate for corruption.
