& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

4-lane Dhaka-Ctg Highway

Ecnec okays hike in project cost

Staff Correspondent
Ecnec yesterday okayed increasing the expenses for Dhaka-Chittagong highway project to Tk 2,382 crore while the cabinet purchase committee has already approved awarding three companies the contract to build the four-lane highway forTk 1,655 crore.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council gave the go-ahead for cost hike on grounds that the project's design and time limit have changed since its first approval in 2005.
At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Ecnec approved seven project proposals involving Tk 3,226 crore. The proposals include the one for Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
Earlier on December 7, the purchase committee approved awarding the deal to one Chinese and two local companies. Ofthe 10 segments of the highway, Chinese company Sinohydro will construct seven and the local companies three.
In 2005, Ecnec approved Tk 1,699 crore in project expenses.
In 2008, the caretaker government fixed the cost at Tk 2,168 crore. The work then was scheduled to be completed by 2012.
This increase ofTk 213 crore [from the sums approved by the caretaker administration] would cover additional expenses in project implementation, say the project documents.
At yesterday's meeting, the time limit for the work was extended to 2013.
After the meeting, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said Ecnec discussed the possibility of expanding the two-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway to six lanes instead of four lanes.
“We may consider the idea with this enhanced budget. But in that case, we will have to float a separate tender," he told The Daily Star.
The planning ministry's project papers say changes in design and addition of some work are among the reasons for increasing the expenditure.
A high official of the ministry said the additional work however does not require approval of the purchase committee.
Speaking in return for anonymity, he said Tk 1,655 crore okayed by the purchase com- mittee was meant for only constructing the road.
Salaries of employees, fees of the consultants and contingency funds have pushed the project cost to Tk 2,382 crore, added the official.
The highway already has four lanes from Dhaka to Daudkandi. Under the project, the 129-km two-lane stretch between Daudkandi and Chittagong would be expanded to four lanes.
The project documents say some 40,000 vehicles use Dhaka-Chittagong highway everyday.
The commuting time, traffic jam and number of accidents on the Dhaka-Daudkandi stretch of the highway have come down significantly after it was turned into a four-laner.
Same benefits would be available on the rest of the highway once it is expanded to four lanes.
Yesterday, Ecnec also approved a Tk 94 -crore project for constructing a complex for freedom fighters in every district, Tk 68 crore for constructing a bridge on Old Brahmaputra river at Saltia Bazar, Tk 331 crore for constructing four kitchen markets in the capital, Tk 67 crore for setting up six technical training centres for orphans and physically- and mentally-challenged children in six divisions, Tk 177 crore for Faridpur town protection embankment, andTklO7 crore for avian influenza preparedness response.