Top-level PPP meeting tackles hurdles across 20 projects

A high-profile meeting of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority on Sunday tackled dragging-on issues plaguing various ongoing projects, according to sources.
After a six-month pause, secretary-level members of the PPP project review committee sat at the PPP Authority office to dissect challenges affecting 20 ongoing projects, including the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
Officials say the expressway had been facing roadblocks due to a lack of cooperation from Dhaka South City Corporation.
The meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and PPP Authority Chairman Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah. It was attended by secretaries of relevant ministries and agencies including the Road Division, Bridge Division, Railway, and Local Government.
Sunday's discussions also covered issues surrounding water supply to the Mirsarai Industrial Park, price fixing and the Dhaka bypass.
Most of these projects have encountered non-cooperation from various government agencies regarding land acquisition.
Meeting sources said that while the Dhaka South City Corporation mayor was absent, the meeting talked about Dhaka south's non-cooperation in approving the right-of-way for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway stretch from Songargaon Hotel towards Palashi.
Bridges Division Secretary M Monjur Hossain informed the meeting that the issue had been brought to the prime minister's attention and secured her support.
The elevated expressway -- operational since September last year between Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Farmgate -- also requires a portion of Dhaka South City Corporation's secondary transfer station site at Panthokunjo, which is yet to be handed over to the expressway concessionaire.
Challenges arising from pillar construction on the Hatirjheel section of the overhead expressway were recently resolved with the prime minister's intervention.
The two Dhaka city corporations, particularly the Dhaka south, have withheld cooperation from the expressway construction, demanding a share of the project -- the country's first large-scale PPP venture in infrastructure.
This demand was, however, rejected by the prime minister during a previous meeting.
The meeting on Sunday granted approval to the Mirsharai Economic Zone to utilise water from the Meghna River due to the absence of alternative sources in the immediate areas. The Chattogram WASA will be extended to facilitate water sourcing from the Meghna.
Addressing land acquisition issues for the Dhaka bypass project near Kanchan Bridge, Railway Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir assured the meeting of necessary steps to facilitate smooth implementation under the Roads and Highways Department.
The PPP Authority currently has 80 projects approved in principle, with two in operation and eight under various stages of construction.
Among others, Senior Secretary and Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Sheikh Yusuf Harun, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mokammel Hossain, Road Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri and Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim were present at the review meeting.
Other high officials from the Chittagong Port Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, and Chittagong WASA were also present.
The purpose of the meeting was to assess progress against project plans, identify roadblocks and challenges hindering implementation, collaboratively resolve issues and find solutions, and make decisions on accelerating implementation.
Following the meeting, PPP Authority chairman unveiled the organisation's Annual Report for the year 2022-2023.

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