Rightsizing pride projects

Development projects, particularly those involving building of big infrastructures, dubbed megaprojects by the media and commenced during the deposed Awami League (AL) government, were in most cases undertaken either to improve the image of those in power or to satisfy their and the contractors' insatiable greed. As one would expect, the megaproject-building frenzy was driven more by desire for lining the pockets of those in power than to serve the public. As a result, those projects were mired in mega-corruption at the expense of the public exchequer. In this connection, the government's implementation, monitoring and evaluation division (IMED) of the planning commission(PC) is learnt to have identified some 3,325 projects initiated by the past government the fate of which is now hanging in the balance due to financial constraints. And 23 big projects worth Tk.2,380 billion are under the scrutiny of the interim government in light of their excessive costs which smack of dishonest dealings. These include, for instance, the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway project, Chattogram-Dohazari railway conversion, Metro Rail Line-1 and Line-5 projects and others.
However, except the ongoing fast-track projects initiated during the deposed AL-government and which have the potential to serve vital public interest, the interim government has decided to drastically downsize other projects whose costs were irrationally inflated with ulterior motive behind those involved in project preparationin the immediate past regime. Included among those, as reported in this paper on Wednesday (October 9), are three megaprojects of the Bangladesh Railway (BR)-Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar-Ghundhum railway, the Padma-rail link and Jamuna rail-bridge construction projects. As for instance, of the first-mentioned project, the Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar-Ghundhum railway project, the 28.75 km Ramu-Ghundum part lacks any economic sense given the prevailing Rohingya crisis and absence of diplomatic rapport with the Myanmar's current military regime. Hence, by pruning the redundant part of the said ADB-financed railway project, a substantial amount of money could be saved and diverted to other public-interest schemes demanding urgent attention. Similarly, the BR is also considering substantial cost-cutting of the China-funded Padma rail-link project and the Japan-funded Jamuna railway-link project whose costs were increased and time schedule extended to suit the purpose of the powerful. Along with these megaprojects, all other projects including 29 ongoing ones are under the scanner of the railway ministry, it could be further gathered.
No doubt, such efforts at reviewing, slashing costs of conveniently inflated projects and, in some cases, outright exclusion of others are steps long overdue. That the interim government has started to deal with big and small corruption-ridden development projects undertaken during past government with all seriousness definitely testifies to its seriousness about the reforms it has promised to carry out within its limited term in office.
Though the money plundered from the megaprojects already completed such as the Padma bridge project which started in January 2009 and saw extension of timeline on several occasions and cost increase by Tk.11.17 billion raising the total project cost to over Tk.326 billion, cannot be retrieved, the government can at least try to cut costs, as much as possible, of the ongoing fast-tract megaprojects that must be completed. To be frank, being still one of the least developed countries (LDCs), Bangladesh cannot simply afford expensive pride projects to bolster the image of any individual. In this connection, the interim government's declared objective of prioritising less awe-inspiring human development-oriented health and education projects is exactly what the nation needs at the moment. In that case, the money saved from pruning unnecessary components and reducing the costs of megaprojects can well be channelled to human development projects.
In any case, to meet its broader objectives the incumbent government will have to be more dynamic and prompt to deliver the goods.