Padma Bridge construction cost goes up by Tk 11b

The construction cost of Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) has once again increased by Tk 11.17 billion as the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement (CCGP) on Thursday approved a proposal to this effect.
This is the fourth time the cost has been revised upward, now reaching Tk 313.10 billion, up from the initial estimate of Tk 101.61 billion in 2007.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting, during which a total of 37 proposals were approved. Cabinet Division Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Mahmudul Hossain Khan briefed reporters after the meeting.
Mr Khan said that Chinese contractor China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Ltd will get the money approved by the CCGP as part of the variation proposal.
He said the meeting approved two separate proposals for purchasing 6.72 million MMBTU (Metric Million British thermal units) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market.
Singapore-based M/S Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd will supply one cargo of LNG at a price of US$ 12.98 per unit, while another cargo will cost US$ 13.85 per unit. The total procurement cost amounts to Tk 11.53 billion.
Besides, the meeting approved three separate proposals, granting permission to the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to purchase 25,000 tonnes of TSP fertilizer under a state-level agreement from GCT, Tunisia, at a cost of Tk 911.10 million, 30,000 tonnes of TSP fertilizer from OCP, SA, Morocco, worth around Tk 1.109 billion and 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer from OCP, SA, Morocco, at a cost of Tk 2.063 billion.
The meeting also gave the go-ahead to two separate proposals, allowing the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to buy 2.5 million litres of rice bran oil from Majumder Bran Oil Mills Ltd in Jahsore and 2.5 million litres of rice bran oil from Majumder Products Ltd in Dhaka, at a total cost of Tk 800 million.
The cabinet body also approved a proposal to appoint the IT firm Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC) at a cost of Tk 175 million. Their task will be to provide smart services to 10 million beneficiary cardholders of the TCB.
Under another approved proposal, the Directorate General of Family Planning will purchase 39 million cycle oral pills from Reneta Ltd, Techno Drugs Ltd, and Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd, costing Tk 1.95 billion.
The cabinet committee also approved a proposal for the National Curriculum and Textbooks Board to buy 5.65 million books from 22 different publishers, amounting to Tk 2.02 billion. These books are for classes one, four and five for the academic year of 2024.
The meeting awarded the contract for the installation of the 3rd and 4th dual gauge rail lines on the Dhaka-Tongi section and the dual gauge double line on the Tongi-Joydevpur section to M/S KEC International Ltd, India, with a budget of Tk 3.49 billion.
The construction work for package number 16 under the Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement Programme (WeCARE) Phase-1 has been awarded to the joint venture of Shamim Enterprise Pvt Ltd, M/S Jakaullah and Brothers, and Md Mizanur.
The meeting also approved a proposal to award a package of works for the project namely "Up-gradation of Sylhet-Tamabil highway into four-lane" to the joint venture of Abdul Monem Ltd and QTCH, China, costing Tk 8.91 billion.
The meeting gave the green light to eight separate proposals under the Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement project, as well as three proposals from the Road Transport and Highways Division.
Besides, the meeting approved two cost variation proposals from the Ministry of Water Resources, one from the Ministry of Railways, and five proposals from the Road Transport and Highways Division, among others.

syful-islam@outlook.com