Bogra road project itself loses way
Stops midway, now seems uncertain
Construction of this road linking Mohammad Ali Hospital to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) in Bogra has remained suspended for an indefinite period because of alleged indecision of the authorities. Photo: STAR
The project for construction of the road connecting Mohammed Ali Hospital to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) in Bogra has remained suspended for an indefinite period, much to the worry of people concerned. The four-year project at an estimated cost of Tk 13.70 crore was taken in 2003 to construct 4.5 kilometre (km) road but the Roads and Highways (RHD) Department suspended it after spending Tk 3.24 crore as the ministry is yet to sanction required fund for the purpose. Md Moniruzzman, executive engineer of RHD in Bogra Division, admitted the matter and said later a Revised Development Project Proposal (RDPP), shortening the road by 1.86 km, was taken to complete the project by June 2012 but the communications ministry is yet to finalise the revised proposal. The revised proposal increased the estimated project coast by Tk 11.00 crore. Moniruzzman said Infrastructure Development Wing under the Planning Commission in a meeting on January 6 last year approved the proposal and decided to send it to the ministry concerned for required fund. “Meanwhile we have completed nearly 40 percent earthwork for 700 metre road from SZMCH to Mohammed Ali Hospital in Bogra town,” said Moniruzzman. The RHD authority already paid Tk 3.05 crore for land acquisition cost and Tk 0.19 crore was spent for earth filling about six years ago, sources said. Local RHD authorities acquired only 0.78 hectare out of a total 2.906 hectare land for the completion of the project but they are yet to take any initiative to acquire rest of 2.126 hectare due to shortage of fund. According to the project plan, RHD will construct 6.20-metre-wide road to ensure smooth and risk-free movement between the two important establishments in Bogra but now it seems quite uncertain due to the lack of decision from the ministry concerned, RHD officials said. Md Rezaur Rahman Shamim, 38, a resident of Salimpur in the project area, said the RHD acquired his nine decimal of cultivable land for the project at a minimum price. “I didn't protest acquiring my land, thinking that it would be used for the betterment of the people. Now I am very frustrated to know that the project has been suspended for an indefinite period,” he said. Another local Md Farukul Alam, 58, said the RHD authority acquired his eight decimal of land in the same area for the same purpose but the land is still unutilised.
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