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Cost of four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway escalates
The deadline for implementing the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway project might be extended by another two years with its cost overrun estimated at 20 percent.
Published : 15 Feb 2016, 06:13 PM
Updated : 15 Feb 2016, 08:04 PM
The third extension and cost hike proposal is likely to be placed at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday for approval.
The summary of the proposal suggests the project cost may be increased by 20 percent from the second amendment and by 76 percent from the initially approved figure to Tk 38.17 billion and the deadline may be extended to December, 2016.
When the project first got the ECNEC go-ahead on Dec 26, 2005, it was supposed to be completed by June, 2012. Later the deadline was reset at December, 2014 following two extensions.
According to the extension and cost hike proposal, 81 percent of the project work had been completed by last month and Tk 25.44 billion had been spent.
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is implementing the mega project.
RHD Chief Engineer Ibne Alam Hasan, who is the project director, declined to comment on the delay in its implementation.
Roads Minister Obaidul Quader recently announced that the highway would be inaugurated in May.
Neither Quader nor the secretary of his ministry could be reached for comments despite several attempts.
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