Shitalakhya Bridge cost set to rise again

The government is set to raise the project cost of third Shitalakhya Bridge again following the quoting of different higher expenses than estimated.
Sources said Chinese company Sinohydro won the work to construct a third bridge over river Shitalakhya against its quotation of Tk 4.48 billion, which leads to revision of the project for a third time.
Roads and Highways Department, the implementing agency for the project, is revising the project after the cabinet committee on government purchases approved Sinohydro Corporation's proposal on December 28.
The project cost was Tk 3.7 billion at the time it was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in November 2010. In the revision, the cost is likely to be hiked to Tk 5.39 billion. The second revision was done in December last.
Officials said the company was selected from among three technically-qualified companies of China as the lowest bidder. They said a total of four companies had submitted proposals, and one was disqualified.
Implementation of the third Shitalakhya bridge construction project was delayed due to the cancellation of its previous bidding in 2012 following objection from the project's financier.
Saudi Development Fund (SDF) did not find responsive as per its rule which says at least three companies should be qualified in its funded project to open financial proposals.
The RHD shortlisted five joint-venture firms of Japan, Korea and Bangladesh at the time, and two of those were technically responsive.
"Due to SDF's objection, financial proposals of those companies were not opened," said one official.
Owing to such hassles, the project missed its target of execution according to the first DPP in 2014. A second revision recommended extending the time up to 2018, but the latest recast proposes to adjust the project tenure up to 2019.
Project office sources said after revision of DPP, contract will be signed with the Chinese company to start construction of the bridge connecting Narayanganj Bandar upazila and Syedpur in the Sadar upazila.
This one will be a four-lane bridge with 2.13-km approach roads at both ends and its construction is to be completed in 36 months.
SFD signed agreement to provide US$45 million for the project back in 2011.
smunima@yahoo.com