The cost of riverbank protection work for the Padma Bridge Project is going to mark a 13 percent rise (Tk 12.47 crore) to Tk 108.45 crore from Tk 95.98 crore.
According to official sources, the Bridge Division of the Communications Ministry proposed the increase in cost on the plea of emergency work for river bank protection.They said the Bridge Division in January last year awarded a contract for the protective work of the bank of Padma River at Jajira point at about Tk 95.98 crore to a contractor Bhartia–MBEL JV Limited under two packages. But the contractor could not execute the contract as it failed to mobilize the equipment for low level of water in the river.
Later, the contractor executed the work as per suggestion of an expert panel of the Bridge Division which allowed the contractor to do the work on an emergency basis before the monsoon and some additional works have been done in the project that ultimately increased the cost.
The Bridge Division now sought the approval of the Cabinet Purchase Committee for the increased cost of the work. It was argued in the proposal of the Bridge Division that it was not possible to execute the work through a fresh tender.
“As a result, the existing contractor was asked to do the additional works at an enhanced cost,” the proposal said.
Officials said if the Cabinet body approves the additional cost, the cost of the work under the package-1 will increase to Tk 56.42 crore from original cost of Tk 46.72 crore while the cost of works under the package-2 will go up to Tk 52.02 crore from original cost of Tk 49.25 crore. – UNB
