Increase in Project Cost, Time Extensions: Put an end to this

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over frequent time extension and increase in costs of government projects and directed the officials concerned to immediately put an end to such practices.

She asked all concerned to complete the projects in time, shunning tendencies to revise projects and raise their costs.

The premier also ordered the officials to find out the reasons behind the delay in implementation of many of the projects.

The directives came at the weekly meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

Over the last few months, scores of proposals for extending deadline for completion of government projects and raising their costs were approved at Ecnec meetings. Some of the projects saw their deadline extended for four or five times.

The prime minister last year asked all concerned to ensure completion of projects in time. Planning Minister MA Mannan also echoed her call.

Yesterday, the PM voiced her dissatisfaction while approving the proposals for extending time and raising the costs of two projects under the agriculture ministry and the road transport and bridges ministry, Planning Commission Member Shamsul Alam told reporters after the virtual meeting.

One of the two projects titled "the Agriculture Information Service Modernisation and Digital Agriculture Information and Communication Strengthening" was supposed to be completed by June this year at a cost of Tk 68.70 crore.

A proposal was placed at yesterday's meeting for extending the deadline by two years with an additional cost of Tk 41.20 crore.

The premier asked the officials concerned to explain why the project got delayed and why its cost went up. The project director was not present at the meeting. The newly appointed agriculture secretary remained silent, Shamsul said adding that the agriculture minister is now abroad.

"Why the project implementation was delayed. By this time, the project should have been completed. And now you are seeking time extension for this project.

"Because of this, the project cost will rise to Tk 109 crore from Tk 68 crore. Take measures so that all the projects are completed in time. Find the reasons behind the delay in project implementation," the PM was quoted by Shamsul as saying.

The PM again expressed her resentment when another proposal was placed for time extension of the project titled "Charkhali-Tushkhali-Mothbaria-Patharghata Road Development and Widening" covering parts of Barguna and Patuakhali.

The proposal sought to extend the deadline for completing the project by two and a half years with an additional cost of Tk 44.57 crore.

The Tk 104.76-crore project was supposed to be completed by December 2018.

The PM sought explanation from the implementing agency why the project was delayed and why the cost would rise, Shamsul said.

"This project should have been completed within the stipulated time, as it involved development and widening of the existing road.

"You bring a proposal for time extension that pushes up the project cost. Such tendencies have to be stopped. It cannot happen over and over again," Hasina was quoted by Shamsul as saying.

The PM also pointed out that the road which is being widened under the project is vital for communication in the region as the Padma Bridge is going to be open to traffic soon. Besides, construction of the Payra port is going on and there will be a cantonment in the area.

She instructed the officials concerned to make a master plan on roads in the southern region, keeping in mind the growing volume of traffic as well as increased movement of heavy vehicles once the Padma Bridge opens.

APPROVAL OF PROJECTS

The Ecnec meeting yesterday approved four project proposals involving Tk 3,903.61 crore. Two of those are for new projects.

It gave the nod to the Tk 2,242 crore project to widen the road and the elevated expressway from Panchaboti in Narayanganj to Muktarpur in Munshiganj.

The project will be completed in June 2025.

Citing a government study, the officials said once the project is implemented, it will reduce the travel cost by 62 percent and the waiting time by 74 percent. The average speed of vehicles on the road would increase by 4.45 times.

The PM asked the authorities concerned to change the title of the project to "double-decker road" instead of "elevated expressway".

Shamsul said the expenditure on consultancy in the project was raised to Tk 25 crore from the proposed Tk 10 crore following requests from the officials concerned.

The Ecnec also approved a project for improving civic amenities in Mymensingh City Corporation at a cost of Tk 1,575 crore. The work includes development of roads and drainage network in the city.