2 Thakurgaon road projects
Work orders finally cancelled
Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) cancelled work orders of two contractors for not completing their road construction work in Haripur upazila under the district even after extension of the time limit several times during last three years.
The authorities also forfeited their five percent 'performance security' in this regard a couple of days ago, said Shariful Islam, executive engineer of LGED.
M/S Rashida Sultan was given Tk 74.10 lakh work order for construction of two-kilometre Dhirganj-Thakurtala road and Tozzammel Haque was given Tk 73.56 lakh work order for a two-kilometre section of Dhirganj-Jadurani road in Haripur upazila on November 25, 2008 under Union Infrastructure Development Project, office sources said.
The two contractors were supposed to start the works on December 1 in 2008 and complete by May 1 in 2009.
But they suspended the works after completing sub-base (filling with sand and small pieces of bricks), showing cause of unavailability of construction materials and project funds.
As LGED issued them letters to start work, they submitted prayers for time extension several times.
After time extension three times, the deadline for Dhirganj-Thakurtala road and a section of Dhirganj-Jadurani road ended on January 31 this year.
When contacted, Tozammel Haque told this correspondent over cell phone, "We failed to complete the project work due to price hike of construction materials and shortage of fund for the project."
Abu Sultan, owner of construction firm M/S Rashida Sultan, said, "We could not continue the work as the LGED is yet to pass the running bill due to shortage of funds even after three years of submitting it."
Md Shafiul Alam, assistant engineer of Thakurgaon LGED, told this correspondent yesterday, "We have sent estimate to higher authorities for rest of the work of the roads. We will invite tender after the proposal is granted."
About 30,000 people of different villages in Bokua, Amgaon and Haripur unions under Haripur upazila have been facing untold sufferings as large potholes and rough surface make the incomplete roads difficult for running of vehicles, locals said.
Especially the villagers are facing problem to bring their agricultural produces through the roads connecting Jadurani Bazar, the largest village market in Haripur upazila, as rickshaw-vans that are main mode of transport for agriculture products, cannot easily ply the roads, they said.
During a recent visit to the roads in Bokua union this correspondent saw that removal of khoas (small pieces of brick) and sand caused many potholes on the roads.
"We have to count extra cost for carrying goods on the road to go to Jadurani Haat," said Shafiqul, 35, a small trader of Nayatoli village in Amgaon union.
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