The much-talked about seven mega projects have been given the highest priority in order to complete the projects in due time. They said the government is giving highest priority to accelerate the ongoing mega projects with an aim to deliver the economic and social goods for millions of people of the country as per the Vision 2021, said top government sources.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, these gigantic infrastructure construction mega projects would significantly develop the country's communications, transportation, ports and energy sectors by 2030 and help the country to achieve reaching the status of upper mid-income country by 2041.
In the last fiscal, the government has allocated Tk 40,000 crore to implement the mega projects to strengthen the country’s communication network, and to develop the power and energy sector to boost the economy.
Padma Multipurpose Bridge
With 84 percent work accomplished, the dream for the largest and the longest infrastructure undertaking in the country— Padma Multipurpose Bridge appears to be a distinct reality now. On December 17, the 19th span of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was installed at Mawa point making 2.85 kilometres visible out of total 6.15km of the main structure of the bridge.
The state-funded project of the government worth taka 30,193.39 crore, the 6.15 kilometers double-deck bridge is expected to be open for traffic by 2020 connecting southwestern regions of the country with the capital city as well as eastern part of the country. The bridge is designed to carry national highway and train line. Construction work of roadway slabs and railway slabs is also progressing simultaneously.
A total of 2,931 such slabs will be installed on the bridge. So far, 500 roadway slabs are ready to be installed at Kumarvogh construction yard at Mawa point, the bridges authority informed. Meanwhile, 192 railway slabs out of 2959 have already been installed on the lower deck of the installed spans. A total of 1,520 railway slabs are now ready.
It is expected that the construction of the bridge will comprehensively transform the pace of economy in the region improving lives of millions of people on both sides of the river Padma.
Payra Deep Sea Port
Payra Port is going to be the third complete port of the country when it would be fully operational by 2023. It is another mega project comprising 19 components. The Payra Port project, under the Ministry of Shipping, will be completed by December 2021. It is being built at an estimated cost of Tk 5,218.59 crore.
Initiating its operational activities in 2016, until now total 35 vessels have anchored in the port jetty. The construction of the first terminal is also progressing fast under government financing at the port. Under the Korean consultancy firm, construction work of jetty, terminal, connecting road and bridge over Andharmanik River is also continuing.
Out of these, 13 components will be constructed under Foreign Direct Investment and the remaining six under the government-to-government (G2G) deals. The main project operations include construction of 1,200 meter access back-up jetty with necessary facilities, 4.80 lakh square meter back-up yard, 10 kilometer slope protection work, erection of 33 KV major electric line, 10 kilometer optical fiber line, setting up water treatment plant, setting up 2.4 kilometer rail line for carrying gantry crane, construction of 5 kilometer highway, medium bridge, security post, guest house, fuel station, labor-intensive rooms, canteens, toilet blocks and two tug boats.
Dhaka Metrorail Project
The Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project — with the visibility of 8 kilometers viaduct of the country’s first-ever metro rail, the authority is now installing the rail tracks over the viaduct. So far, a total of about 60 percent of the work of the metro rail has been completed from Uttara to Agargaon – about 12 kilometers stretch of the metro rail line.
According to the Metro Rail Project, the construction from Uttara to Agargaon began in August 2017 under package three and four. Till now, 743 of the total 766 pile capes, 380 of the total 393 pier head, 4884 of the total 5149 precast segments casting have been completed, total 8.04 kilometers viaduct is visible and the rest of the continuous viaduct erection is continuing. The sub-structures of nine stations from Uttara to Agargaon have already been completed. At present, Uttara North, Uttara Centre is continuing.
Based on the rolling stock and depot equipment collection under package eight, as per the progress report, it was learnt that the mock-up metro train will arrive on 31st December this year. The first metro trainset is scheduled to arrive on June 15 next year.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant
The country’s first 2400 megawatt-capacity nuclear power plant at Rooppur is nearing reality with each passing day. With many of the construction parts standing the mega project is now visible to many extents, officials informed. The construction project is being implemented in Rooppur of Pabna district by a subsidiary of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom. It is top priority project on the Bangladesh government’s agenda, all the way up to the Prime Minister’s Office.
It is expected that the first unit with capacity of 1200MW will be commissioned in 2023, and the second with similar capacity the following year. On 2 October 2013, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the first stone in the foundation of Rooppur NPP. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved “Construction of Rooppur NPP” Project on 6 December 2016 at an estimated cost of Taka 1,13,092.91 crore.
Bangabandhu Tunnel
At least 50 percent construction work of much-awaited Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli river has so far been completed, official sources said. Two tubes, stretching 2,450 meters each, are being constructed in the tunnel as construction work of 1,220 meters of Anowara upazila-bound tube has already been completed, its project director (PD) Engineer Harunur Rashid Chowdhury recently told a state owned news agency.
The two tubes comprise four lanes and each tube measures 35 feet wide and 16 feet high. The total project works is expected to be completed by 2022. The acquisition of 383 acres of land has also already been completed for the tunnel’s approach roads. Bangladesh Bridge Authority is constructing the 3.5 kilometers long country’s first-ever four-lane Bangabandhu tunnel under Karnaphuli river with an approach road of 4.89 kilometers alongside 740 meters of bridge linking the main port city with southern regions of Chattogram, sources said.
Dhaka Elevated Expressway
The construction work of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway has progressed at least 50 percent so far and the authority concerned is conducting the rest of the construction work as the financial complexity is over. The construction works would be completed by 2022, official said. The first phase construction works of the expressway from Airport to Banani has achieved 50 percent progress. This portion will be opened for vehicular movement by September 2020, project information showed.
The project work starting from Dhaka airport will reach Kutubkhali of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway via Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad and Jatrabari. The main project cost has been estimated at Tk 8,940 crore. Of the amount, Italian-Thai Development Public Company Ltd invested Tk 6,444.31 crore and the rest Tk 2413.80 crore will be spent by the government from its own fund as Viability Gap Fund (VGF).
Coal-fired power plant at Matarbari
The state-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) is constructing a coal-fired power plant with capacity of 1200MW at Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar. It is expected that the first and second units of the power plant, each with a 600MW generation capacity, will go into commercial operation by January 2024, and July 2024 respectively.
Sources said, recently the finance ministry has issued a gazette notification instructing tough measures - all the ministries have been instructed not to make additional expenditure to the allocated fund of different development and maintenance sectors. The gazette also instructed not to spend the unused money of development projects in maintenance sector, sources added.
