Why only 7.54pc progress of Faridpur-Kuakata Highway in 5 yrs?

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD), in October 2018, took up a project to acquire land and move utility lines for turning the Faridpur-Barishal-Patuakhali-Kuakata Highway into a dual carriageway, but hardly any progress has been made in five years.

The plan to upgrade the highway was taken to boost tourism and improve the overall road communication system.

The Tk 1,867.85 crore project to acquire 302.70 acres and move roadside utility lines was supposed to be completed by June 2020.

But as of March, this year, only 7.54 per cent progress has been made.

It missed its last deadline in June.

The RHD is now seeking to bump up the project cost by a confounding 223 per cent, Tk 6,050.53 crore, and wants time until June 2025 to finish the project, which the Planning Commission has questioned.

This delay might affect turning the 232km highway into a four-lane highway with service lanes.

The Asian Development Bank plans to finance this expansion and it is in its loan pipeline.

The project authorities, however, said they have to acquire 558 acres more “due to ground reality” and this is the primary reason for the cost escalation.

They also claimed that they have completed almost half the work, not the 7.54 per cent mentioned in the documents.

They also said that this delay would not affect the highway expansion work.

The Faridpur-Patukhali Highway is facing growing traffic following the opening of the Padma Bridge last year.

Even the Bhanga-Barishal portion saw congestion during the last Eid rush.

Delays in starting the expansion work may cause road users to suffer, people who use the road frequently said.

The Planning Commission raised questions after the RHD sought more money and time.

It asks why 184 per cent more land is needed to be acquired and why the cost of the acquisition went up by 310 per cent when the length of the road has been reduced by 4km in a revised proposal.

In excuse of the government’s weakness and alienation from the masses, a section of corrupt bureaucrats, businesses, and politicians in the name of development works riddle the national exchequer and bound the government machinery to take loans from lenders to meet their greed.

No state can run such a condition, where none is responsible for their deeds.