The Tk 64 crore Upgrading and Rehabilitation of Rural Infrastructure (URRI) project in Rangamati is unlikely to be completed within the time limit of current financial year despite extension of the project period by two years.
Only about one-third of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aided project has been completed though Tk 40 crore has been spent so far, sources said. The rest of the money will have to be returned if the project is not completed within the stipulated time, they said.
Only three out of 12 roads and one bridge out of at least 20 under the project have been completed in eight years, according to sources in Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) in Rangamati.
Work on the URRI project was stared in 2001-2002 to improve road links between upazilas and the district headquarters.
LGED is implementing the project, a component of Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project (CHTRDP).
The three roads completed are Battali-Ugalchari road, Kawkhali-Ghagra road and Wagga Junior Highschool- Sapchari.
They however claimed that work of remaining nine major roads is now almost half done.
The roads yet to be completed are 4.010 km Bangalhalia-Nalkachari road, 18.367 km Jhagrabil-Rangamati-Boradam Road, 7.627 km Sapchari High School-Furomown Peak road, 5.027km Bogachattar-Ghonomor road, 6.682 km Bilaichhari-Farua Bazar road, 5.283 km Bonojagichhara-Subolang Bazar road, 10.632 km Khansamapara-Baghmara-Antapara-Rajasthali upazial road, 7.823 km Betbunia Chayeri Bazar-Barmachhari Bazar road and 11.543 km Ghilachhari Bazar-Burighat Bazar road.
Only two culverts and a bridge on Jhagrabil-Boradam-Rangamati road have so far been completed.
During a recent visit this correspondent saw only about one-third work of Bilaichhari-Farua Road in Bilaichari upazial, Betbunia-Chayeribazar-Barmachari Bazar road in Kawkhali upazial and Ghilachari Bazar-Burighat Bazar road has been completed.
Overall progress of the project work unsatisfactory though two-thirds of the fund have been spent,
As per the initial plan, the project was supposed to be completed in 2006-2007 financial year. As LGED failed to implement it within the time frame, ADB extended the project period up to FY 2008-2009.
The then secretary of CHT Affairs Ministry Md. Abdus Sabur at a meeting at Rangamati Circuit House in September last year expressed his dissatisfaction over the alleged dilly-dally in implementation of the project. He asked LGED authorities to complete the project by the current financial year at any cost, the sources said
Hill people, particularly farmers, will be greatly benefited by the project as they will be able to carry agricultural products to markets when roads will be completed.
There have been allegations of use of substandard materials in construction of roads and bridges. Recently, nine construction workers and an engineer were injured when the under- construction 72 meter long Asambasti Bridge collapsed.
Dhaka based construction firm M/S Uttar Khan Ltd is constructing the bridge involving a cost of Tk 2 crore.
Locals alleged that the bridge collapsed due to use of low quality materials. Construction was started in 2006 but the bridge is still half done.
“I hope the project will be completed by June next year. If we can not do that, the money will be returned to ADB. So, we have to implement it at any cost,” said LGED Assistant Engineer Pratipada Dewan at Rangamati.
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