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SBMCH Modernisation Unfinished

Work order cancelled, contractors fined

Our Correspondent, Barisal
Authorities have cancelled the work order for modernisation and extension of Barisal Sher-e Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) as the contractors failed to complete the work even after expiry of the extended time two monthsago.
The construction firms concerned, Messrs Azad Construction and Mercantile Properties Limited, have also been fined Tk50 lakh.
The contractors, on the other hand, have claimed that the work could not be finished as the Public Works Department (PWD) refused to revise the project cost in spite of price hike of construction materials.
During a visit to the site a couple of days ago, it was found that more than 35 per cent of the work has remained undone.
"As the contractors failed to complete and hand over the building under the project within the extended tenure of June 30 this year, we have to return Tk 4 crore of the fund placed for the project in 2011-12 fiscal year," said Dr Anil Chandra Datta, deputy director (DD) of SBMCH.
"In last two decades, the number of patients at SBMCH has nearly tripled while the number of beds here has increased to only 500 from earlier 300 beds," he added.
At present, the hospital
daily treats 1,000 to 1,500 indoor patients and more 500 to 800 people at the outdoor, SBMCH sources said.
Earlierin2006, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council approved a project for extension of the SBMCH to a 1000-bed hospital with modem health care and service facilities.
The project also includes building eight administrative sections, operation theatre, pathological lab, CCU, bank, post office, pharmacy, four lifts, five stairs, extended outdoor and emergency treatment facilities.
In January 2008, the PWD called tender to construct a seven-storey building with a 10-storey foundation at a cost of Tk 30 crore. On March 8 the same year, Messrs Azad Construction and Mercantile Properties Limited of Dhaka got the work order.
Later, the project was reduced to aTk21-crore one and accordingly, a five-storey building instead of previously planned sevenstorey building was to be constructed.
The revised project, to be completed within 27 months, reduced 250 beds and excluded the dormitory and administrative sections, said Suvas Chandra Roy, a
PWD engineer posted at SBMCH sub-division.
The construction firms have already collected 75 per cent bills, but they failed to complete the work in due time, and the scheduled time was extended for nine months more, upon their request, he said.
"We asked the departments concerned to take action against the construction firms,” said Arifur Rahman, executive engineer of PWD Barisal office.
"As per order of the health ministry on Wednesday last, a letter has been sent, effecting cancellation of the work orders to the two firms. The firms have also been finedTk 50 lakh that will be forfeited from their earnest money. Fresh tender will be called soon to complete the remaining work within a year,” he said.
Asked about the matter, Md Foyez, a supervisor of the work on behalf of the construction firms, said, "Prices of construction materials have increased at least two times in last three years. We have failed to hand over the building within the scheduled time as the authorities concerned refused to increase the estimated fund."