By Bangladesh Post
4 min read • October 25, 2024
Seven road and railway projects funded by China and India in Bangladesh face delays. Contributing factors include delays in fund release, land acquisition, and political issues, leading to significant cost increases.
Delayed projects in Bangladesh due to various issues including funding and land acquisition.
Seven road and railway projects funded by China and India in Bangladesh have been delayed due to multiple reasons such as delays in fund release, land acquisition complexities, and political instability. These projects, amounting to approximately $275 million USD (Tk 30,000 crore), have faced significant cost increases due to prolonged timelines.
The Rampura to Demra expressway project, with a per kilometer cost of $2.23 million USD (Tk 244 crore), is Bangladesh’s most expensive road project. Despite a planned completion by 2026, it is facing slow progress due to fund delays. A $301 million USD (Tk 3,304 crore) contract was signed with China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), with China financing the infrastructure while Bangladesh handles land acquisition.
The Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Bangladesh's first elevated expressway, has also been delayed by 13 years due to land issues, design complexities, and fund disbursement problems. Only 75% of the work has been completed, and further delays are expected. The project is managed by Italian-Thai Development Public Company (Thailand), Shandong International Economic and Technical Group (China), and Sino-hydro Corporation (China).
Five railway projects funded by India, including the Bogura-Sirajganj dual-gauge line, are also delayed. This project, costing $52 million USD (Tk 5,579 crore), with India contributing $29 million USD (Tk 3,146 crore), has seen less than 10% progress, with funding delays from India's third line of credit being a significant issue.
Other delayed Indian-funded projects include the Tongi-Joydebpur dual-gauge lines, with an initial budget of $8 million USD (Tk 848 crore), later revised to $30 million USD (Tk 3,343 crore). Only 36% of the work has been completed.
The Khulna-Darshana double line railway project has only 4% progress after six and a half years, while the Parbatipur-Kaunia dual-gauge line and Kulaura-Shahbazpur railway restoration face similar delays.
| Project | Stakeholders | Firms/Organizations |
|---|---|---|
| Rampura to Demra Expressway | Chinese Consortium | China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) |
| Dhaka Elevated Expressway | Italian-Thai Development | Shandong International Economic and Technical Group (China), Sino-hydro Corporation (China) |
| Bogura-Sirajganj Dual-Gauge Line | Bangladesh Railway, Indian Contractors | Government of India (Financer), Indian contractors |
| Tongi-Joydebpur Dual-Gauge Lines | Bangladesh Railway | Indian Government (Financer) |
| Khulna-Darshana Double Line | Bangladesh Railway | Indian Government (Financer) |
| Parbatipur-Kaunia Dual-Gauge Line | Bangladesh Railway | Indian Government (Financer) |
| Kulaura-Shahbazpur Railway Restoration | Bangladesh Railway | Indian Government (Financer) |
