The implementation of ten big projects in the power and infrastructure sectors has become uncertain due to coronavirus, officials have said.
They also said the work of five projects has been shut down and the work of other five has slowed.
A large number of foreign investors, contractors, consultants and engineers are involved in these projects. Implementation has been halted as the foreign and local workers are not working due to coronavirus which has already claimed over 160,000 deaths worldwide.
The foreign workers and officials have left Bangladesh and the local workers have moved back to their homes.
These ten projects are in the communication and power sectors. The estimated cost of these projects is Tk 3,060 billion. These projects were undertaken after the Awami League came in 2009. These projects did not progress as per plan due to various reasons earlier. As a result, the costs and deadlines were changed repeatedly. Now coronavirus had pitched the projects into further uncertainty.
Three projects are being implemented by the road transport and bridges ministry. Work on the metro rail has been stopped and the work of Padma Bridge and the Karnaphuli tunnel has slowed down. The estimated cost of these projects is Tk 600 billion.
Three projects are under the railway ministry.
These are: construction of railway tracks on both sides of Padma Bridge, construction of a railway line between Dohazari of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and the construction of Akhaura-Laksham double line. The work of the first is going on in a limited scale and work on the others has halted. The estimate of these projects is Tk 640 billion.
Sources at the road transport and railway ministry said most of the citizens of Europe, USA, Australia, Japan and Korea have left Bangladesh. Raw material is not coming from many countries. That is why the work of the projects is halted.
Four projects are in the power sector.
These are Payra, Rampal, Matarbari coal-fired power plants and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
The estimate of these projects is Tk 1820 billion. Two-third of the amount will be spent for Rooppur.
The work of the first two is halted.
Bangladeshi workers demanded suspension of the work of Matarbari and Rooppur. The project authorities, however, have not decided yet.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid said an order has been given to suspend the work of the projects under his ministry. The workers will get wages and will not lose their jobs.
Former secretary Fauzul Kabir Khan works for the economic impact of big projects. He said the project cost may increase further if the work is halted.
“We have to find out ways to begin work on the projects in phases to lessen pressure on the economy. After testing coronavirus of workers, they have to be kept in a certain place and the work of the projects has to be started,” he told Prothom Alo.
Authorities rigid at Matharbari
The authorities are continuing the work of Matarbari coal-fired power plant in Cox’s Bazar ignoring the demand of the workers. Around 3,000 workers have been working on this project.
A section of workers halted the work on 9 and 10 April demanding lockdown of the project area. But the concerned authorities did not take the matter into consideration. Law enforcers were deployed to bring the situation under control. The agitating workers also demanded three months’ wages and assurance that none will be terminated.
Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) is in charge of the implementation of the project.
Its executive director Nazrul Islam said, “There is no discontent among the workers. The work is going on for 24 hours at Matarbari and will continue.”
The plant is to generate 1200 megawatt electricity. The Bangladesh government and JICA are jointly financing the project. The project includes a port. The project started in 2014. The contractor was appointed in 2017 and the plant is supposed to start generation in 2024.
Rooppur ‘progressing’
Bangladesh signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (RSAEC) to set up the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant at Ishwardi of Pabna. Rosatom’s sister concern Atomstroyexport is the contractor of the plant.
In a press release on 12 April, Rosatom said the implementation of the project is advancing during the COVID-19.
The construction of the plant started in 2016 and is supposed to end in 2025. Two units will generate 2400 megawatts of electricity.
Work of Rampal and Payra halted
The work of Payra coal-fired power plant at Kolapara of Patuakhali is halted due to coronavirus. Two power plants are being built with a capacity of 1320 megawatt of electricity.
The coal-fired power plant at Bagerhat near Sundarbans was supposed to start generation in 2016. The capacity of the plant is 1320 megawatt. The deadline was revised to 2019. The construction is yet to be finished. The work is halted due to coronavirus.
Work of Padma bridge slows down
Two spans have been installed on pillars of Padma bridge during the coronavirus crisis. The work is continuing.
Top officials said the work decreased by 40 per cent in March in comparison to February.
They fear the work may decrease further. Till March, 86 per cent of the work on the main bridge was complete.
Around 4,000 Bangladeshis work with the Padma Bridge project. Around 1500 went on leave. Some are returning to join work and they have to undergo a14-day quarantine.
Around 1,000 Chinese workers work in the project and around 100 workers left and have not returned.
The officials see a few more challenges and these include supply of cement and timely import of materials from China.
Cement for Padma Bridge comes from Narayanganj, the district hit hard by coronavirus.
A total of 41 spans have to be installed for the bridge. The government planned to install all spans by July but so far only 28 spans have been installed.
Officials said the Padma Bridge may open by June 2021.
Over 200 consultants work for Padma Bridge. They are citizens from different Western countries, Japan, Korea and Australia.
So far 25 consultants have already left Bangladesh and some of them said they will not return.
After deferring several times, the construction of the Padma bridge started in 2014. The bridge was to open in 2018. The deadline was rescheduled.
Only Chinese workers at Karnaphuli Tunnel
With the financial assistance from China, a tunnel is being built under the Karnaphuli river. The contractor is also from China. The work is halted at night. The work for the road outside the tunnel is halted too.
Over 200 Chinese persons are working on the project. All experts are also from China. A source said the work of the tunnel will not be halted completely. There is no fear that the Chinese citizens will leave Bangladesh. The work cannot be speeded if local workers are not found. Besides, construction materials have to be brought from China.
Under the joint initiative of China and Bangladesh, Chinese contractor China Communication and Construction Company is implementing the project.
Around 51 per cent of the work is completed. Some 3.4 kilometers tunnel is being built under the river. Besides roads and overpasses are being constructed.
The contractor was recruited in 2015. The work started in 2018 as the Chinese government did not release money timely. The duration of project implementation has been increased to 2022.
Metro rail work halted
The government has a plan to inaugurate Dhaka’s first metro rail in December next year. The work of the project is halted due to coronavirus. And 41 per cent of the work was completed till February.
The 20-kilometer metro rail is to connect Uttara and Motijheel.
Top officials said the work is halted as the local workers have gone home. Construction materials are not coming from abroad, they added.
Materials from India, Belgium, and Switzerland are not coming in. The factories are also shut. But officials said the Chinese factories are reopening and materials will come.
The government approved metro rail in 2012. On the following year, the government signed agreement with JICA. The main work started in 2016. A portion was supposed to start last year. The deadline increased by two years.
Status of railway projects
Out of three big railway projects, the construction of the railway line on both sides of Padma bridge is progressing on slowly. Two other projects are halted.
A top level source said local workers are not available. Many of foreign engineers and workers left Bangladesh.
Under the G to G system, a 169-km long rail line via Padma bridge connecting Dhaka and Jashore is being built at the financial support of China. China railway group is the contractor.
The loan agreement was signed in 2016. However, the work started last year. A few Chinese workers are working, but local workers are not available. One fourth of the work is completed.
The construction of the railway line from Chattogram’s Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar started in July of 2018. The project is supposed to be completed in June 2022, but one third of the project remains incomplete.
Max and Toma and a Chinese firm are jointly implementing the project.
Project officials said around 1200 workers including 500 skilled ones, worked in this project. They have gone home. There are 60-70 Chinese workers but they are unable to work.
The work of double railway line between Akhaura and Laksham halted at the last moment due to coronavirus. The project was undertaken in 2014. The railway was supposed to be inaugurated this year.
Bangladesh Railway director general Md. Shamsuzzaman said no one has control over the coronavirus pandemic. However, the work of Padma bridge rail communication is progressing a little bit.
Road transport and bridges ministry secretary Belayet Hossain said the work of Padma bridge and Karnaphuli tunnel is not halted. However, the speed has slowed down, he added.
*This story has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.