Chinese contractor submits safety plan

The Chinese company concerned has submitted a detailed safety plan for the entire Joydevpur-Airport corridor for approval from the BRT project's consultants with a target to resume the construction work soon.
The develoment came 13 days after a fatal accident at a construction site of the project.
However, sources said though a team of construction supervision consultants (CSC) have already started a scrutiny into the plan covering all aspects of international standard safety measures, its finalisation will take time due to the finding of some problems.
They said only a safety plan would not ensure secured construction, its execution is also necessary where severe lapses remain.
CSC sources said two international safety experts already joined the team and identified some problems like lack of understanding of safety by the sub contractors and language problems.
"We had a long meeting with all .. contractor people, project management, etc.. all people are very very concerned and won’t okay it without touching all aspects of safety," said a source.
He, however, said the international experts will visit the construction sites to understand the measures to be taken by the contractor and talk with the people.
The consultants also found that the contractor was yet to appoint a safety officer and the people working here have a severe lack of understanding about what the safety means.
"The contractor did not appoint any safety officer yet. But without such an officer it will be mere waste of time to work on safety plan," said an official who attended the meeting held in this connection. The safety plan execution totally depends on their understanding of the various safety measures.
Citing examples, he said soon after the fatal accident that occurred on August 15, the contractor placed a safety sign and put up a barricade but with nets like mosquito or bamboo sticks.
It is learnt that the contractor had earlier submitted a plan only for the site where the accident occurred and it was rejected by the CSC. Finally on Sunday, the Chinese contractor submitted the detailed plan.
The BRT project was undertaken in 2013 to develop more than 20 kilometres of the BRT line from Joydevpur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to help passengers cross the corridor in 20 minutes. However, construction has been challenging since the beginning due to heavy traffic as well as a fund crisis faced by the two contractors selected by the two executing agencies.
The Roads and Highways Department appointed the contractor to build 16 km at grade road with some flyovers below the 1.5 km while the Bangladesh Bridges Authority selected another one to develop 4.5 km elevated structures.

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