MoC set to complete 29 RHD projects this year

Munima Sultana | May 12, 2014 00:00:00

The ministry of communication (MoC) is hopeful of completing 29 projects out of over 100 under its Road Division in the current fiscal year.

Officials said the ministry has also set a target to complete 55 more projects in the next fiscal year to lessen the pressure of constructing infrastructures.

The MoC has long been criticised for piling up of projects for constructing roads, bridges and culverts due to pressure from different quarters in their respective areas.

Due to poor budgetary allocation, the ministry had stopped taking any new project in the last FY 2011-12 except some nationally important projects.

According to the Annual Development Programme (ADP), the ministry has 189 projects to be implemented through the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) at a cost of Tk 98 billion in the FY 2013-14.

The number was, however, cut to 149 projects during the revised ADP following budget constraints.

In the upcoming FY 2014-15, 17 new projects are likely to be added with the total number standing at 139.

Sources said among the new projects, the Bhulta flyover near Rupganj of Narayanganj is significant as it is aimed at easing severe traffic congestion.

The projects to be concluded in the current fiscal year include Nabinagar-DEPZ-Chandra four-lane project, procurement of double decker, single decker and articulated buses for the BRTC, Dapdapia bridge on Barisal-Patuakhali Road, Sheikhpara-Shaolkupa-Langolband Road Development Project and six road development and construction projects in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Though the officials said all these projects will be completed in time, record shows that five of these projects were revised at least more than once.

The Road Division finds it hard to implement 80 per cent of its projects due to poor allocation of funds. It had demanded Tk 45 billion in last fiscal year against which it received Tk 30 billion.

Due to the fund constraints, the ministry this year prepared a list of 10 mega projects for which the Road Division would need over Tk 35 billion. The officials alleged that due to the mega projects, implementation of less budgeted ones get hardly any money and delayed.