Work on major dev projects under watch for smooth sail

The Matarbari 1,200mw coal-fired power project has been put on 'fast track' for its smooth sail through any hurdles as the government intensified the monitoring of implementation of the country's mega development schemes.
Officials said the monitoring committee on fast-track projects in a meeting last week at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) listed the donor-aided comprehensive project for an intensive watch and examined the progresses so far made in implementation stage.
While updating the committee members the officials in the meeting said 1,500 acres of land had already been acquired for the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)-funded project.
"The process of appointing consultant for the project is at final stage and the fencing of the land acquired for the plant is underway," it was stated.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had approved the country's costliest project, involving Tk 359.84 billion, last August.
JICA has agreed to provide Tk 289.39 billion to implement the project which is aimed at reducing the electricity shortage in order to spur economic development of the country.
The first unit of the project is targeted for 2018 while the entire project is expected to be completed by 2023. Under the project a deep-sea jetty will also be constructed to handle coal for the plant alongside developing township on the Maheshkhali island.
Sources said the committee also took update on progress regarding implementation of other fast-track projects like Padma Multipurpose Bridge, nuclear power plant, Bangladesh-India friendship power plant in Rampal, metro-rail project, LNG terminal, and deep-sea port.
The meeting was told that, so far, 1.0 per cent of main bridge construction, 30 per cent of Jajira approach road, 22 per cent of Mawa approach road, 99 per cent of land acquisition, and 65 per cent of rehabilitation works had been done.  Officials apprised the meeting that some 20 per cent of overall works of Padma Multipurpose Bridge construction would be completed in six months.
Regarding Ruppur nuclear power plant it was told that three out of five works under first agreement and over 50 per cent works of second agreement between Bangladesh and Russia are completed so far. Under the third agreement some studies are almost at final stage. Some basic construction works have already been started while the main work will begin in 2016.
On Bangladesh-India friendship power plant in Rampal officials informed the meeting that works relating to earth filling and fencing were on stream while geotechnical survey is completed.
Development project proposal for capital dredging in the Pashur river is sent to the ministry of shipping and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is requested to construct roads for connectivity.
Regarding Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development project it was stated that the basic design of the project would be completed within this month while detailed design was expected to be finished by next July.
"The geotechnical survey of the project is underway," the review meeting on the country's major development projects was told.
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