Fast-track projects see better implementation
Implementation of eight fast-track projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) was at a good pace in the first seven months of the current fiscal year of 2022-23 while that of other projects was slower.
Spending under some fast-track projects was even higher than that of their allocations, so the government raised their allocations in the revised ADP in the last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
However, spending under the Rooppur nuclear power plant project was lower than its allocation. As a result, the allocation was reduced.
Apart from the eight projects, the government raised allocations in the revision for other mega projects that witnessed spending in excess of their allocations.
In the seven months, 44.21 per cent of the allocations for the eight projects was spent while overall ADP implementation stood at 28 per cent, according to data from the planning ministry.
In other words, the projects saw Tk 14,403 crore being spent in the period whereas the allocation was Tk 32,578 crore, the data shows.
The government's policy is to complete the mega projects as quickly as possible and so, the ones which witnessed timely utilisation of allocations received higher financing, said a top ministry official.
Project implementation was lagging at the primary stage due to issues pertaining to procurement planning, tendering, land acquisition, and so on, said another official.
As most mega projects are nearing completion, their implementation rate is better, he added.
ROOPPUR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
The allocation was Tk 13,395 crore in the current fiscal year while 30 per cent, or Tk 4,021 crore, was spent.
The allocation was reduced to Tk 11,139 crore in the revised ADP.
The government is working with the Russian government to bring ease to payments. In spite of the challenges, the physical works have progressed as per schedule, according to a ministry official.
PADMA BRIDGE
The bridge is already open for movement of vehicles but some of the final touches are yet to be made, including river training.
Of the total project cost of Tk 30,193 crore, around 96 per cent was spent within last January.
The allocation in the project was Tk 2,202 crore in the current fiscal year while spending stood at Tk 810 crore. Now, the allocation of the project has been revised down to Tk 1,402 crore.
DHAKA METRO RAIL
Implementation of the project, known officially as the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project Line 6, is going on in full swing.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on December 28 last year inaugurated the country's first-ever metro rail and it was opened to the public the following day.
At first, the trains operated between Uttara to Agargaon without any stoppage. Later, three more stations -- Pallabi, Mirpur-10 circle and Uttara Centre -- were made operational in two phases.
The government aims to open the metro rail fully from December this year.
The allocation for the project was Tk 2,883 crore and Tk 2,957 crore was spent in the first seven months. The allocation was revised to Tk 3,049 crore.
MOHESKHALI-MATARBARI INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The Tk 51,854 crore project has progressed 72 per cent physically till last January.
The allotment for the project was Tk 6,554 crore in the current year while spending reached one-third, or Tk 1,926 crore, of the amount in the seven-month period.
The allocation was increased to Tk 7,490 crore in the revised ADP due to the progress in physical implementation.
PADMA BRIDGE RAIL LINK
The Tk 39,246 crore project saw better progress in physical works compared to its spending.
The physical progress was at 71 per cent with spending at Tk 26,395 crore as of January this year.
Its allocation was Tk 5,809 crore in the current year while 54 per cent, or Tk 3,181 crore, was already spent. So, its revised allocation rose slightly to Tk 5,909 crore.
If the spending continues at a better space, the allotment would be higher as the government has a target to open rail movement on the bridge, according to a ministry official.
SINGLE LINE DUAL GAUGE RAILWAY TRACK
Construction of the railway track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar had a physical progress of 77 per cent and financial progress of 39.37 per cent so far.
Implementation of this project was slow since the very beginning. But the progress slowly improved, so the allotment was fixed at Tk 1,450 crore in the year.
Some Tk 791 crore was spent and now its allocation has been revised down to Tk 1,020 crore for the current year.
MAITREE SUPER THERMAL POWER PLANT
Around 91 per cent of the physical work of the project at Rampal has been completed till January with a total of Tk 13,226 crore, or 83 per cent of the project fund, being spent so far.
The estimated cost of the project is Tk 16,000 crore.
PAYRA DEEP SEAPORT
The project, involving an estimated Tk 4,374 crore, achieved 89 per cent physical progress and 82 per cent financial progress as of January.
OTHER MEGA PROJECTS
The revised allocation decreased for the Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway to Tk 3,300 crore from Tk 3,702 crore and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Tk 4,469 crore form its original allocation of Tk 6,019 crore.