The cost of Tongi-Bhairab Bazar Double Line Project will mark a rise by about 17 percent due to delay in implementation of the railway project caused by political turmoil and excessive rainfalls over the years.
“Many locations of the project went under water and remained inundated for 5-6 months during monsoon in the last two years. So, earthwork had to be suspended during the period. Hartals were enforced for a total of 333 days after the launching of the project, delaying the construction work,” Najnin Ara Keya, deputy director of Bangladesh Railway, told UNB.
As the project period has to be expanded for its smooth completion, its allocation will go up in line with the inflation, Najnin said adding, “As per the international contract, the project allocation is revised every year considering the inflation.”
The total cost of the Tongi-Bhairab Bazar Double Line Project is Tk 203.68 crore (US$ 293.64 million). The government has taken the project taking US$ 202.52 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as loan.
The project period is from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2014. But, the project is required to be expanded up to June 2015, according to Bangladesh Railway officials.
Bangladesh Railway and China Railway Group Limited singed a contract of Tk 14054.20 million on July 27, 2011 to implement the project. And the project was officially kicked off on November 2, 2011.
About the progress of the project, official sources said the earthwork started on April 4, 2012. The work is going on covering 64 kilometers and about 48.58 km embankment has already been completed.
Soil treatment is going on in a 20.2-km area. Removal and replacement of soil is being done in 10 km area. About 314,116 meters of wick drain, 19,447 meters of sand piles and 46,550 sqm geotextile has been completed.
Najnin said the physical work of the project will complete by March in 2015 and another three months will be needed to complete other works.
Once completed, Tongi-Bhairab Bazar Double Line Project will help reduce travel time, improve the service of Bangladesh Railway and reduce accident risks.
Source: UNBConnect