The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has taken moves to meet progress target in Annual Development Programme (ADP) for next quarter aiming at improving its image from a worse performer in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY).
The performance of BR under the Ministry of Railway (MoR) was the lowest, attaining only 3.73 per cent progress during July-September of the FY 2015-16.
Its performance during the corresponding period of last fiscal was 5.75 per cent.
The railway's performance was much lower than the national average of 7 per cent in the first quarter.
Officials said since the poor performance was recorded during the ADP review meeting at the Planning Commission, the MoR and BR held several meetings mainly with project directors (PDs) of 11 big projects and gave necessary direction to speed up the process of implementation.
They said the PDs are told to identify problems for slow progress of the projects and take immediate and necessary actions with the help of the BR and ministry officials to overcome the same.
The BR has 39 ongoing projects against which Tk 54.10 billion was allotted for implementation during the current fiscal year. Eighty-two per cent of the budget amounting to Tk 44.28 billion was, however, allotted for total 11 projects.
Sources said the meeting had identified that poor spending in these 11 projects resulted in the bad record of the ministry in the ADP.
However, official sources said, from the meeting outcomes it is now obvious that they are hopeful of improving the ADP performance of the MoR by 12 per cent by the end of December as several measures have already been taken in this connection.
An official said a good number of projects will reach implementation stage by signing contracts and completing purchase of goods during the next one month.
Besides, he said, steps were also taken to complete land acquisition of two projects-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway project and Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara new rail line projects-before the 2nd quarter ends. Administrative order has already been issued in this connection.
The officials said tender process for Dhalarchar-Pabna railway track construction work, 11-station signalling work and Khulna-Rupsha bridge tract construction will be completed soon helping the ministry to improve its status.
They also said with the onset of dry season, works of ongoing projects including 2nd Bhairab, 2nd Titas tract construction, expedition of renovation works of damaged rail track on Sholosohor-Dohazari line, Chinki Astana-Ashulia and Laksam-Chandpur lines have already began in full swing.
The officials also said ADP performance of the railway ministry will also improve as 170 broad gauge and 100 metre gauge carriages are expected to arrive in the country by January next.
A big amount of money will be released soon after the consignment reaches the Chittagong port in connection with the release of 80 per cent of the LC (letter of credit) cost, they added.
Budget for the MoR has been increased manifold during the last 2/3 years. The budget for the current fiscal year was increased by about Tk 20 billion from the amount of last fiscal year.
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