Concerns over quality work as RHD seeks more time

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has sought extension of time for one-fourth of its development projects amid concerns about quality of work and spending.
RHD officials said they have written to the Planning Commission (PC) seeking one to two years more time for 33 out of a total of 124 ongoing development projects, as their deadlines expired in June last.

"We have sought extension of time, not any additional funds, for the projects," said a senior RHD official.
Since the projects have not been completed, more time is needed for implementing those, he added.
 A senior PC official said: "We have got the request from the RHD. We are now looking into the proposals. If they deserve it, we will extend the time."
The state-owned road development agency has a total of 124 investment projects in the current financial year (FY) involving a total cost of Tk 295.66 billion.
The government has allocated Tk 38.42 billion for the projects this fiscal.
A PC official said the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) under the PC was also scrutinising the projects of the RHD, for which the time extension was sought.
The official, however, added that in the name of time extension the RHD in many cases was wasting money and time affecting development of the country.
"Many projects have already got extension or revision for the second or third time. It is not only hampering quality but also leading to waste of public funds. Besides, it is creating room for misappropriation of money," he said.
For example, the RHD has sought extension of the implementation deadline for the Tk 2.14 billion Gazipur-Ajmatpur-Itakhola Road project for one more month.
In the last 13 years from inception of the project work in July 2000, the progress in the project work had been 54 per cent, although its deadline had been over in June last, the official said.
The work on upgrading the Madaripur-Shariatpur (via Kazirtek Bridge) road to a four-lane one at a cost of Tk 1.99 billion was only 3.87 per cent until April last. The life of the project expired in June last.
A senior RHD official alleged that the government does not allocate the required money every year for implementing the projects and that hinders the timely implementation.
Besides, the complicated land acquisition and project approval process also lead to the delay in project execution, he added.
"If a department like RHD alone seeks time extension for one-fourth of its development projects, how will be the infrastructure developed?" a PC official asked.
He said the RHD should enhance its efficiency and capacity for project execution as it is the country's most important agency for developing infrastructure.
Almost every year, the RHD and many other project executing agencies of the government seek extension of project period failing to implement those in time.
If the government allows such practices to continue, their efficiency would not improve and overall development of the country's infrastructure would be affected, the PC official added.