The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Thursday approved variation orders worth more than Tk 3,200 crore for several packages under the SASEC Road Connectivity Project-2 aimed at upgrading the Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur highway into a four-lane road.
The recommendations were made at a CCGP meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair, following proposals from the Road Transport and Highways Division.
The project is being implemented by the Roads and Highways Department with joint financing from the Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Under package WP-05 (Part-1), the committee recommended approval of Variation Order-01 involving an additional Tk 109.05 crore. The original contract value of the package was Tk 594.75 crore, while the revised contract value stood at Tk 703.80 crore, which is 18.34 per cent higher than the original contract price. Abdul Monem Ltd was the recommended contractor.
For package WP-06 (Part-1), the committee recommended approval of Variation Order-02 involving Tk 291.83 crore. The revised contract value reached Tk 941.56 crore, which is 44.92 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 649.73 crore. HEGO-MIR AKHTER JV was the recommended contractor.
For package WP-07 (Part-1), the recommended variation order amount was Tk 386.59 crore. The revised contract value increased to Tk 1,178.96 crore from the original Tk 792.37 crore, representing a 48.78 per cent increase. Abdul Monem Limited was selected as the recommended contractor.
The committee also recommended approval of a Tk 267.87 crore variation order for package WP-08 (Part-1). The revised contract value of the package is Tk 815.93 crore, which is 48.87 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 548.06 crore. CPC-TANTIA JV was the recommended contractor.
For package WP-09 (Part-1), a variation order involving Tk 347.65 crore was recommended for approval. The revised contract value reached Tk 1,057.73 crore, 48.96 per cent above the original contract price of Tk 710.08 crore. KMC-MONICO JV was the recommended contractor.
The committee recommended approval of Variation Order-03 for package WP-10 (Part-1), involving Tk 130.64 crore. The revised contract value stood at Tk 1,100.89 crore, 44.96 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 759.42 crore. China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corp Ltd was the recommended contractor.
For package WP-11 (Part-1), the committee recommended approval of Variation Order-02 involving Tk 256.57 crore. The revised contract value increased to Tk 781.88 crore, which is 48.84 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 525.31 crore.
China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corporation Ltd was the recommended contractor.
For package WP-12 (Part-1), a variation order of Tk 93.64 crore was recommended for approval. The revised contract value reached Tk 720.69 crore, 48.84 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 484.20 crore. China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corp Ltd was the recommended contractor.
The committee also recommended approval of Variation Order-01 for package WP-13 (Part-1), involving Tk 335.03 crore. The revised contract value increased to Tk 1,073.44 crore, 45.37 per cent above the original contract value of Tk 738.41 crore.
China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co Ltd was the recommended contractor.
For package WP-14 (Part-1), the committee recommended approval of a Tk 86.27 crore variation order. The revised contract value stood at Tk 334.86 crore, 34.70 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 248.59 crore. National Development Engineers Ltd was the recommended contractor.
Meanwhile, for package WP-15 (Part-1), the committee recommended approval of Variation Order-01 involving Tk 58.76 crore. The revised contract value increased to Tk 204.05 crore, 40.44 per cent higher than the original contract value of Tk 145.30 crore.
NDE-FHTTCL JV, comprising National Development Engineers Ltd and Fiber Home Telecommunication Technologies Co Ltd, was the recommended contractor.
The Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur highway project is considered one of the major transport infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity between the northern region and other parts of the country.