Anisul Islam Noor :
The fees and other expenditure for the consultant firm of Dhaka-Jessore rail link project through Padma Bridge has awfully raised from Tk 237.14 crore to Tk 1031.83 crore, according to sources close to the project.
Of the expenditure, over Tk 100 crore will be spent only to purchase 81 cars, 30 motorbikes and three ambulances. However, the cost of purchasing vehicles was initially estimated at Tk 20.5 crore.
Besides, 25 cars will also be supplied from other closing projects of Bangladesh Railway.
This information was revealed in the Revised Development Project Proposal (RDPP) of the Padma rail link project, which has been finalised by the railway recently.
The proposed vehicles for the consultant firm include seven VIP jeeps and the estimated cost of each jeep has been fixed at Tk 1.10 crore. As well, 30 more common jeeps, 34 double cabin pickups and seven microbuses will also be bought. And their estimated prices will be Tk 85 lakh, Tk 60 lakh and Tk 50 lakh respectively. During the feasibility study that completed in 2015, the expenditure was estimated at Tk 237.14 crore.
Meanwhile, the project was approved in the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for construction of 169 kilometers of Dhaka-Mawa-Jessore rail line in 2016. At that time the cost of consulting sector was Tk 908.76 crore.
According to RDPP, Tk 40 crore will be spent for the construction of the office for consultants, Tk 10 crore for purchasing furniture and other equipment, and Tk 12 crore for buying computer, software and other office stationeries.
The Director General of Bangladesh Railway Amjad Hossain told The New Nation that the requirement of vehicle was estimated as per the ratio of 169 kilometers of railway construction as well as supervision.
He argued that 57 vehicles were purchased while connecting railway link over Jamuna (Bangabandhu) bridge project. So, the number of vehicles is not additional considering it (Padma Bridge) as a mega project.
Actually, there is no procedure that such a special facility is available to consultants on any project running under the railway or any other organisation. Even the original Padma bridge project the cost was estimated at Tk 516.64 crore for the consultancy sector.
Though the vehicles will be bought for the consultants, they will be used by senior officials of the railways and the ministry. Railway Minister, Railway Secretary, Railway Director General and the Project Director will take one each of the four VIP jeeps. A speedboat has been kept for them also. Officials will use some of the proposed jeeps and pickups, which will be bought for consultants.
The 30 motorbikes bought for consultants have been made part of the railway officials, although 18 separate cars are being purchased separately for railway and ministry officials under the project.
It is shown in expenditure analysis that the consultant’s honorarium has been estimated at Tk 247.78 crore. They can spend Tk 145.87 crore in support of staff. The foreign consultants can spend Tk 26.25 crore for travelling and as honorarium. Besides, they will also be able to spend Tk 10 crore for taking specialize opinion for the project.
It is to be mentioned that the estimated cost of the project was Tk 34,988.86 crore in 2016. Of this, China will provide Tk 24,749.5 crore as loan. Based on the G to G, the China Railway Group will implement the project.
But in the revised proposal, the cost of construction of the railway will increase to 40,080.44 crore.
The construction works are expected to commence in 2018 and scheduled to be completed by 2022.
