-Slow to move power poles
-Anger at the suffering of the masses
-Poles moved 13-14 pc per year
The scheduled completion time of the project titled upgradation of two regional highways of Narsingdi to proper mean width is 36 months. 24 months have passed since then. At this time, 66.66 percent of the work on two roads was supposed to be done, but 30 percent was done on one. Besides, 12 percent is in the other.
This slowness of work is due to the presence of electric poles on the roads. In the meantime, it is requested to remove the existing electric poles which are creating obstacles to road development. In response, the letter asked for an 'estimated cost' of Tk 41 crore 68 lakh 42 thousand with the condition of relocation and reconstruction of rural power lines. On June 20, 2023, Narsingdi Roads and Highways Department paid the entire amount to Palli Bidyut Samiti-2, Narsingdi for removing poles as per the demand of Electricity Department.
Complaints were raised that despite getting the money for removing the poles a year ago, this department has spent years by removing some poles in Namkawaste and wasting time to remove the remaining poles. In this, the road expansion work of Tk 984 crore 84 lakh 72 thousand of 54.80 km of the two regional highways is stuck. Among them, about 32.7 kilometers of Itakhola-Mathkhola-Katiadi road (R-211) and 18.10 kilometers of Nayapara-Araihajar-Narsingdi Raipura road (R-114) have caused such obstacles and crises. As a result, the passengers of various vehicles are constantly suffering to travel through the roads. Suffering is increasing in the public mind and anger is increasing. Such allegations have been made against Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samiti-2.
However, Sheikh Manowar Morshed, general manager of Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samiti-2, has somewhat cofessed these allegations. He said, the money has been deposited, it is true. We got the money and the work is ongoing. If slow, the work of moving the pole is going on. According to the design of Mr. Exch, we are doing any important work. Goods have to be purchased, collected. It also has a rule. Collecting goods, given contractors they are working.
He said, hopefully it will be completed within the next six months. However, the project concerned and the contracting company said that many letters have been given about removing the pole from the road since about two years ago. The meeting has been held several times. As required, the line shifting and reconstruction money has also been paid a year earlier. This is not working either, these poles are not moving.
It was known that on July 19, 2022, the Itakhola-Mathkhola-Katiadi road (R-211) and Nayapara-Araihajar-Narsingdi-Raipura (R-114) two regional highways were approved in the ECNEC meeting at Atta in Narsingdi Road Division. The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk 984.8472 crore for the development of 54.80 km road funded by GOB. The sanctioned period of the project is from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025. In the project, the road is divided into 4 packages and separate tenders are invited for four parts. The roads will be 34 feet wide. Multiple underpasses, overpasses, side roads, bridges and drains will be constructed at critical points on the road.
Among these, Itakhola-Mathkhola-Katiadi Regional (R-211) road is divided into two packages. Package-01 16.00 km road from Itakhola Junction to Dasdona Junction is being done by Reliable Builders Limited. The contract value of which is Tk 241.93 crore. The work period will start from 16-10-2023 and will end on 15-10-2025. Work progress is 30 percent.
Md Azad Rahman, project manager of that company said, we have been given permission to work 9 months ago. Some underpasses, overpasses and side roads have been made. The main obstacle on the road is the electric poles, so the work is slow. I can't even work because they are not being removed.
Package-02 of the same road from Dasdona junction to Drener Ghat 16.70 km road is being done by National Development Engineers Limited. The contract value of which is Tk 302.80 crore. Work period from 07-12-2023 to 07-12-2025. Work progress is 30 percent. However, 5.26 hectares of land is being acquired at a cost of Tk 40.61 crore at an average of 35 feet from the side of the 3.50 km road from Sagardi to Drener Ghat. Patardia-Dasdona link road of 4.00 km length in package-04 is being done by the same contractor. Its contract value is Tk 28 crore. Job duration is 10-04-2023 to 10-10-2025. The contractor company has already completed the package-4 work.
Moazzem Hossain, the project engineer of that organization, said that the road is being obstructed due to hundreds of poles. Roads are being dug with excavators. Electricity poles stand in the middle of some distant roads, underpasses, and overpasses or drains. Work is slow because of poles. As a result, the passengers of various vehicles are suffering to travel on that road.
Package-03 Narsingdi-Raipura (R-114) 18.10 km road development is being done by Rana Builders contracting company. Its contract value is 249.35 crores. work period is 07-12-2023 to 10-10-2025 and work progress is 12 percent. Some parts of that road are being acquired.
Sohel Rana, project manager in charge said, there are 480 poles between the roads. After much talk and pleas, Palli Bidyut removed only 20 poles. By this time, our work was supposed to be 40 percent. But it was only 12 percent. I can't even work because they are not being removed. We will not be able to complete the work on time due to non-movement of electric poles. If the poles are not removed, the losses will continue to increase.
Rajib Kumar Das, Sub-Divisional Engineer, Roads and Highways Department Ways (RHD), Narsingdi, said that the road department paid Tk 41.68 crore to Palli Bidyut Samiti-2, Narsingdi a year ago for removing poles as per the demand of the electricity department. In my Itakhola-Mathkhola-Katiadi Regional (R-211) section, out of about 1869 poles, only 250 poles have been removed. On an average, only 13-14 percent of poles have to be removed in a year.
He said that the highway development work was being hampered due to slow shifting of poles. As a result, construction of underpasses and bridges at Shibpur College Gate, Shibpur Bus Stand, C&B, Hatirdia, Narandi, and Manohardi along with Hetemdi Bus Stand are closed. In this regard, Palli Bidyut Samiti-2, Chowala, Narsingdi have been repeatedly informed about this, but no speed is noticed in shifting the pole. This is creating a long process in the implementation of the project.
He also said that once the work of the two regional highways is completed, the public will be able to travel to their destination smoothly and in a short time by using the roads, and they will also be able to transport goods very easily. A new horizon will open up in the communication system. The route will play an important role in facilitating domestic and regional trade. Therefore, to implement the project on time by moving the electricity pole very quickly, the public traveling by road along with the project related institutions are drawing the attention of the appropriate authorities.
ZH
