No progress in floating tenders for projects with Indian credit
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Munima Sultana
No progress has yet been made with regard to inviting tenders in advance for 10 projects of the communications ministry to be implemented by Indian credit. Special permission was given by the prime minister to float tenders for the projects pending formal ECNEC approval.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave her nod to invite the tenders before ENCEC approval soon after the ministry sought permission on November 14 in this regard. The Prime Minister in exercise of her power under Rules of Business 1996 (article 33) allowed the ministry to invite tenders.
The communications ministry sought the PM's permission on grounds of speeding up the process of implementation so that the concerned agencies start work on projects soon after ECNEC approval is accorded. It also cited the reason of prime minister's long foreign tour for which there would be no meeting of ECNEC.
Officials said after almost 20 days of granting permission by PM, tender for purchasing of 300 double-decker buses was invited. But the rest were not done due to some complications in tender documents.
Though the planning ministry has already approved the development project plans (DPP) of the 10 projects during the time of Prime Minister's foreign tour, officials said, none of these projects is likely to be placed in tomorrow's meeting of ECNEC (Executive Committee of National Economic Council).
Seven projects of Bangladesh Railway and two of Roads and Highways Department received the Planning Commission's approval on November 22 and 29.
Some 17 projects of Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Bangladesh Railway (BR) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) are due to be implemented by the Indian credit aiming to provide transit and transshipment facility to the neighbouring country.
Among the total projects, ECNEC approved seven projects before the special permission was given. The rest 10 remained pending with Planning Commission for its approval except one project. Only RHD's connecting road project on Development of Baraiyarhat-Heanko-Ramgar-Sabrum Land port was awaiting ECNEC approval.
An official of RHD said tenders for the pending projects relating to buy goods were invited.
"As most of the unapproved projects are related to work at field level, tender of these projects could not be invited due to complicacies in the tender documents," he said.
The projects to be implemented under BR include construction of Khulna-Mongla Port rail line with feasibility study, procurement of 150 metre gauge coaches and 100 metre gauge tank wagons and 30 broad gauge locomotives.
India offered $1-billion credit to Bangladesh during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January. The credit has been proposed to be used for access to Chittagong Port and get transit and transshipment facilities through Bangladesh to the remotest northeastern region.
No progress has yet been made with regard to inviting tenders in advance for 10 projects of the communications ministry to be implemented by Indian credit. Special permission was given by the prime minister to float tenders for the projects pending formal ECNEC approval.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave her nod to invite the tenders before ENCEC approval soon after the ministry sought permission on November 14 in this regard. The Prime Minister in exercise of her power under Rules of Business 1996 (article 33) allowed the ministry to invite tenders.
The communications ministry sought the PM's permission on grounds of speeding up the process of implementation so that the concerned agencies start work on projects soon after ECNEC approval is accorded. It also cited the reason of prime minister's long foreign tour for which there would be no meeting of ECNEC.
Officials said after almost 20 days of granting permission by PM, tender for purchasing of 300 double-decker buses was invited. But the rest were not done due to some complications in tender documents.
Though the planning ministry has already approved the development project plans (DPP) of the 10 projects during the time of Prime Minister's foreign tour, officials said, none of these projects is likely to be placed in tomorrow's meeting of ECNEC (Executive Committee of National Economic Council).
Seven projects of Bangladesh Railway and two of Roads and Highways Department received the Planning Commission's approval on November 22 and 29.
Some 17 projects of Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Bangladesh Railway (BR) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) are due to be implemented by the Indian credit aiming to provide transit and transshipment facility to the neighbouring country.
Among the total projects, ECNEC approved seven projects before the special permission was given. The rest 10 remained pending with Planning Commission for its approval except one project. Only RHD's connecting road project on Development of Baraiyarhat-Heanko-Ramgar-Sabrum Land port was awaiting ECNEC approval.
An official of RHD said tenders for the pending projects relating to buy goods were invited.
"As most of the unapproved projects are related to work at field level, tender of these projects could not be invited due to complicacies in the tender documents," he said.
The projects to be implemented under BR include construction of Khulna-Mongla Port rail line with feasibility study, procurement of 150 metre gauge coaches and 100 metre gauge tank wagons and 30 broad gauge locomotives.
India offered $1-billion credit to Bangladesh during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January. The credit has been proposed to be used for access to Chittagong Port and get transit and transshipment facilities through Bangladesh to the remotest northeastern region.