The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is in a dilemma with a project for construction of three bridges as it did not get approval from the Planning Commission to revise the project proposal during the last one year and a half.
Officials said the project was officially declared closed during the last fiscal year (FY 2013-14) after completion of the three bridges in 2012 and 2013.
But they said the RHD sought the approval of the revised development project proposal (DPP) for the fourth time to clear payment of the contractors as per the IMED recommendation.
The RHD sent an unusual number of the DPP revision of the 708 metre 3rd Buriganga bridge, 1.72 metre 2nd Shitalakhya bridge and 750 metre Teesta bridge during the fiscal year 2013-14 seeking time extension of the project.
The project originally was supposed to be completed in 2006 spending Tk 2.65 billion. But its time and cost were increased to Tk 3.16 billion during the third revision for various reasons including changes in design thrice. In the first DPP, the project is supposed to be completed in 2010, in 2nd revision in 2011 and the 3rd in 2013, finally.
The RHD sought the fourth revision extension of the time to 2015.
Of the total fund, the Kuwait Development Fund committed to provide Tk 1.72 billion which, however, increased to Tk 1.90 billion during the 3rd revision.
But sources said despite pending payment, the RHD dropped the three-bridge construction project from the list of the revised annual development programme (RADP). The project was not included in the ADP of the current FY 2014-15 despite non-payment of dues.
They said as the RHD sought additional fund from the Planning Commission to clear Tk 180 million dues of the contractors of the three bridges and Tk 460 million for various expenditures, the procedural conflicts in implementing the project made the Planning Commission suspicious.
When asked, the RHD officials said the three-bridge construction project was dropped from the RADP following the ministry's decision.
They said the department went for the fourth revision of the DPP on recommendation of the IMED when its plea for payment clearance with additional cost early 2013 was reviewed.
They also said the additional fund was demanded as arbitration on additional claim of the contractors has been going on for increase of different raw materials and time extension.
The payment remains due mainly in the Teesta bridge construction part as the project was not included in the revised ADP, said an official preferring anonymity.
The 3rd Buriganga bridge was completed in December 2009, the 2nd Shitalakhya bridge in June 2010 and the Teesta bridge in June 2012.
Another source said due to complications with the project funding, the development partner also halted the last payment and informed the RHD of their unwillingness though it extended the time of funding to 2015.
He said following the development partner's extension, the RHD also sought the time extension up to 2015 with the proposal of six per cent increase in the project cost to Tk 3.22 billion.
Planning Commission sources said it considers the RHD's demand for revising the DPP after completion of its project tenure a clear violation of the government rules and regulations as a project can only be revised two times. Third-time revision is done upon permission of the concerned minister. The fourth-time revision hardly happens but sources said it has also to take the minister's permission.
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