One-fourth of RHD budget for FY2015-16 for only six projects

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is expected to spend one-fourth of its budget allocation in the upcoming fiscal year for its only six of 17 big projects as these are to be completed by June next year.
According to RHD, of these projects, the highest allocation has been given to the Tk 32 billion Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane project, followed by Tk 18.15 billion Joydevpur-Mymensingh four-lane project.
"These projects will be completed in the next fiscal year. So the entire fund for the projects will have to be released by the end of next June taking significant portion of the RHD budget," said an official of the planning section.
Officials said in the FY 2015-16, highest Tk 9.15 billion was allotted for the Dhaka-Chittagong four lane project, followed by 2.7 billion for Joydevpur-Mymensingh four lane and Tk 877.3 million for Eastern Bangladesh bridge improvement project.
The three other big projects to be completed during the period are 'Completion of Incomplete Bridge and Culvert project,' 'the 7th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge (Kazirtake bridge over Arial  Khan river)' and 'Construction and Rehabilitation of Ferry and Pontoon projects' which are also expected to get over Tk 1.0 billion.
In the upcoming FY, the RHD is expected to get Tk 52.35 billion for implementing a total of 17 big projects and 91 other projects. Of the total allocation, the RHD will have to spend Tk 13.97 billion for these six big projects.
Sources said three more technical projects run through RHD project offices will also be completed next year. These are Tk 863 million technical assistance for sub-regional road transport project preparatory facility, Tk 978 million technical assistance for detailed study and design of Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway on PPP basis.
However, sources said among the nine big projects, progress of many projects has been found slow. About 60 per cent of the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane work was completed while 55 per cent work of the Construction and Rehabilitation of Ferry and Pontoon project was done till April.
Progress of the two other technical projects was also recorded at over 30 per cent.
Progress of the 7th Bangladesh-China friendship bridge, Joydevpur-Mymensingh four-lane project, Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project and sub-regional road transport project (TA) was recorded satisfactory with completion of 82 per cent, 77 per cent, 76 per cent and 83 per cent work respectively.
The officials of these projects, however, expressed their confidence to complete the rest of the work by the end of June next year.
But they expressed their worry about reduction of the number of big projects.
"The number of RHD projects has been reduced due to the government's policy of not taking any more road construction projects," said an official.
After completion of the total six investment projects and three technical projects, the RHD will have eight big projects-Improvement of Black Spot on National Highway, 2nd Kachpur, Meghna, Gumti bridges and rehabilitation project, Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project (BRT Gazipur-Airport project), Bhulta flyover construction on Dhaka-Sylhet highway and SASEC road connection project to upgrade  Joydevpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga road to four-lane project.
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