Running behind schedule

Bangladesh Railway (BR) took up two projects worth Tk 5,187 crore in early 2018 to expand two railway lines, for boosting internal and inter-country rail communication.

Physical works of the projects -- to be implemented with Indian lines of credit (LoC) -- have not started yet, although the deadline is only seven months away.

However, after many delays, the authorities have been able to select the consultants to conduct the feasibility study, make detailed designs and do other works.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase on April 20 approved the purchase proposal for engaging consultant firms from India, and the project authorities have already issued notification of award to the firms on May 17, said sources.

"We hope to sign contracts with the consultants within a month and start the works," Monirul Islam Firoz, BR chief engineer (west zone), told this correspondent yesterday.

However, the deadline would still need to be extended for two or three  years. Costs are also likely to increase, said BR sources.

BR is currently implementing seven projects with Indian LoCs and grants. All of them are currently running behind schedule.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, who is currently visiting India, requested his Indian counterpart to ease the project billings on Wednesday.

The state-run transport agency is currently implementing 40 projects   involving Tk 1,42,407 crore, with joint funding from the government, Asian Development Bank, India, China, Japan and Korea, BR documents show.

Twenty-six of the projects had to be revised -- 19 of them last  fiscal year  -- mainly due to problems over land acquisition,  unavailability of  funds, shortage of required manpower, poorly done  feasibility  studies and Covid-19 pandemic, BR sources said.

THE 2 PROJECTS

The government in May 2018 approved a project to build another line along the existing single track from Khulna to Darshana at a cost of Tk 3,506.75 crore. India will provide 77 percent of the cost as loan.

The project aims to increase transportability through BR's Dhaka-Khulna and Khulna-Chilahati corridors. The existing Khulna-Darshana section of Dhaka-Khulna corridor is a single broad-gauge line. Under the project, the section will be upgraded to a double line by installing a 126.25-km broad gauge track with a 14.40-km loop line.

The project authorities, in mid-2018, issued an expression of interest in appointing a consultant. However, they cancelled it in August that year, as only one organisation was shortlisted for work, according to project documents.

The second attempt was also cancelled as Indian EXIM Bank did not approve.

The project, however, was successful in selecting consultants on the third attempt. The authorities will soon sign a contract with the joint-venture firm STUP-Aavree-DDC to do the work for Tk 87 crore, said sources.

They will review the feasibility study, draw detailed designs and prepare tender documents within 11 months from the day the contract would be initiated.

Besides, they will also supervise the work for four years (including a one-year defect liability period).

"The process was delayed due to the involvement of several Indian agencies," said an anonymous project official.

The government, in February 2018, approved another project to turn about 67 km of metre-gauge lines into dual-gauge from Parbatipur to Kaunia at a cost of Tk 1,683 crore, aiming to improve inter-country rail network with India, Nepal and Bhutan and increase trade among the countries.

India is supposed to finance 81 percent of the costs.

With this project, the authorities took three and a half years to select consultants.

Aavree-STUP-DDC will carry out the feasibility study, draw detailed designs and prepare tender documents within a year at the cost of Tk 75 crore, said an anonymous project official, citing similar reasons for the delay.