Those works may not be completed in schedule time. In addition, those may add additional costs and time in implementation

Staff Correspondent:

The fate of 2,080 ongoing mega development projects in the country has become uncertain due to clutch of corona pandemic’s second wave causing frustration to the civil society members.

They are apprehending that, those works may not be completed in schedule time. In addition, those may add additional costs and time in implementation.

Of the projects, some 411 are expected to be implemented by the upcoming June, if the virus pandemic is not prolonged. If the effect of corona is longer, the level of challenge will be increased.

Sources said, those projects are being implemented by the concerned ministries and departments under the Revised Annual Development Program (RADP).

There is an allocation of about Tk 1,92,013 crore. RADP got approval in the first week of March. But, in the meantime, coronary infections began to increase. Lockdown is going on across the country. However, the government continues its efforts to keep the development project underway. Adequate preparations have been taken to meet the challenges in the implementation of those mega projects. But, such preparation was not taken against other projects. It is apprehended taht, the implementation process may be hampered due to the impact of the ongoing lockdown.

According to sources, finally increase of costs and duration may be needed for many project to complete the implementation.

Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty, Secretary of the Department of Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation (IMED) said, “Corona must have an impact on the projects. However, the projects, which are based on survey or technical assistance, may be less affected. It is natural that the implementation of infrastructure projects is being hampered.”

Replying to a question, he said, some of the projects which have the target of 100 percent implementation may be completed. But in most cases, there can be problems.

Reviewing IMED’s monthly progress report, it is seen that the revised annual development program for the current financial year has been implemented in the last four financial years. The implementation rate of revised ADP for the nine months till March of the current financial year is 41.92 percent, which was 45.08 percent in the same period of last financial year.

Prior to this, it was 47.22 percent in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19, 45.65 percent in the FY 2017-18 and 45.15 percent in the FY 2016-17.

Zahid Hossain, former lead economist of the World Bank’s Dhaka office said, “Harmful impact of corona pandemic’s second wave has fallen on the development project. In particular, it is normal that labor-intensive and foreign-related projects will be hampered drastically. However, the government is making efforts to ensure that development work is not hampered, or that projects are kept afloat to keep employment in check. But, if the second wave of corona is prolonged, negative impact will fall on the implementation of those mega projects.

As a result, there is a possibility of increasing the duration and cost of the project in the end. However, it is important to keep the project works continuous in the social security and health sector.

According to sources, the number of ongoing investment projects in the main annual development program (ADP) of the current financial year was 1,461. Some 382 projects were scheduled to be completed. The number of investment projects in the revised ADP has increased to 1,639, while 441 are scheduled for completion. Fast track mega projects are also among these ongoing projects.

Engineer Dr. Shafiqul Islam, Director of the Padma Bridge Project and Dr. Saukat Akbar, Director of the nuclear power project at Rooppur said, they are ready to meet the challenges needed to continue the works of the mega projects.