Chattogram elevated expressway cost rises by another Tk 144 crore, total crosses Tk 3,500 crore

The cost of building the elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram has risen again. The government has now approved a further increase of Tk 144.63 crore for the project.

After the second round of increase, the project's revised contract value stands at Tk 3,513.70 crore. Compared with the original contract value, the cost has risen by about Tk 794 crore, or 29.18 percent.

The project's construction cost was initially set at Tk 2,720 crore. It has now risen to more than Tk 3,500 crore.

The proposals were approved on Thursday, November 12, at a meeting of the cabinet committee on government purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to meeting sources, Tk 144 crore 62 lakh 60 thousand has been newly added under the second variation proposal of the WD-1 package of the Chattogram Elevated Expressway construction project. The work is being implemented by the Max-Ranken joint venture.

The project's original contract value was Tk 2,720 crore 4 lakh 67 thousand 760. In the first variation, the cost was raised to Tk 3,369 crore 7 lakh 10 thousand 851. With the second increase, the revised contract value now stands at Tk 3,513 crore 69 lakh 70 thousand 871. In total, the cost has risen by Tk 793.65 crore over the original contract value.

At the same meeting, proposals to build a seven-storey hospital building and a seven-storey academic building for Rangamati Medical College and Hospital were also approved. The two buildings will cost about Tk 339.44 crore.

Under the project to establish Rangamati Medical College and Hospital and Nursing College, Tk 230 crore 86 lakh 41 thousand 516 was approved for the hospital building. The building, to be built on a seven-storey foundation, will house accident and emergency, outpatient, laboratory, diagnostic and treatment departments. Nurani Construction Limited has won the work, to be implemented through the Public Works Department.

Under the same project, Tk 108 crore 57 lakh 59 thousand 304 was approved for the seven-storey academic building. Delta Engineers and Consortium Limited will implement this work.