Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway: Project cost to go up again

The cost of Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway project is set to rise again as the authorities are going to do some additional work, mainly to ensure road safety.

The work includes construction of some 20 footbridges and remodeling the Mawa and Pachchar roundabouts.

If the revised proposal is approved, the cost of the project would go up to Tk 11,043 crore, up by Tk 40 crore form the current cost.

Moreover, the project deadline has already been extended to June 2022.

All these developments come around two years after the opening of the 55-kilometre expressway, from Dhaka's Jatrabari to Faridpur's Bhanga, by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in March last year.

The four-lane expressway with service lane on both sides is being considered as the country's most expensive road considering the per kilometre construction cost (around Tk 200 crore), officials said.

To ensure smooth movement of traffic across the Padma bridge, the government in May 2016 took up the project to widen the road involving Tk 6,252 crore.

The project deadline was set at April 2019.

In December 2016, the authorities approved a special revision of the project adding Tk 640 crore, mainly for land acquisition.

But in 2018, a separate Development Project Proposal (DPP) was approved with a cost of Tk 4111.85 crore for including more elements in the project and the deadline was fixed at June 2019.

Officials said a project with two DPPs is a rare case. The total cost of the project has gone up to Tk 11,003 crore.

The scheme has witnessed 92.63 percent progress so far. A project of Roads and Highways Department, it is being implemented by Bangladesh Army.

WHY THE COST ESCALATION AGAIN?

On December 15, the Divisional Project Evaluation Committee held a meeting on the revised DPP, with Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary Nazrul Islam in the chair.

According to the meeting minutes, an additional Tk 148 crore would be required for some additional works of the project.

Around Tk 48 crore would be needed for remodeling Mawa and Pachchar roundabouts, construction of some additional side roads and Tk 14.47 crore for earth works.

Besides, about Tk 85.68 crore would be required for the construction of some 20 footbridges, fencing and some other works.

"In fact, all these will be done to enhance road safety measures," an official involved in the project said.

However, the project authorities have saved more than Tk 100 crore from different works, including consultant's fees, and shifting of utility lines.

Adjusting all these costs, the revised DPP proposed to increase the project cost by Tk 39.94 crore, reads the document.

The meeting also directed the project authorities to ensure its completion within the revised deadline of June 2022.

The prime minister opened the expressway on March 12 last year. However, its users will get full benefits once the construction work of the Padma bridge is completed.

People will then be able to reach Bhanga from the capital (around 75km) within an hour. However, they will have to pay toll for using the expressway.