The cost of construction of Payra sea port have gone threefold as the government is going to increase its budget to Tk 2,222.07 crore, which is about 197 percent higher than the previous budget.Primarily, the cost of implementing the project was Tk 1,118.43 crore, which is now going to stand at Tk 3350.51 crore.
On the other hand, the expansion of the project is extending for two more years along with the expenditure. The project, which started in November 2013, was scheduled to end in June, 2018. But In the last four and a half years, the project works haven't finished yet, which now will end in six and a half years.
However, The Shipping Ministry has informed five reasons to increase spending and expansion. The Ministry says that the price of the houses with the value of the land, of trees, pond mining, compensation for fish and owner's earnings and other expenses are increasing, which had not been included in the previous Development Project Proposal (DPP).
Besides, during the preparation of the original DPP, the land compensation is given only on the basis of mouza rate, which has increased manifoldtoday. These additional expenses are included in the revised DPP.Zuyena Aziz, a member of the Physical Infrastructure Department of the Planning Commission, said, "Payra port is the long hoped only deep sea port of the country. It is economic and commercially important. If the facilities are extended, the port will play a role in the development of the country's domestic and sub-regional import-export trade which will lead to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people."
She said, "The proposal for amendment of the project has come to the Planning Commission to increase its infrastructure. It will be presented at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today for the approval."
The review meeting of land acquisition and related development activities in the area of Payra Port and its adjoining areas was held on October 4, 2017, presided by Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Coordinator (SDG Affairs) in the Prime Minister's Office.
According to the Fast Track report, the financial progress of the project was 53.441 percent till February last. During this time, the expenditure is Tk 602.69 crore. The infrastructural development of the project has completed only 49.77 percent.
In a big leap forward, the Payra Port Authority signed a deal with a Belgium-based company named Jan De Nul to start capital dredging of the port's main channel to facilitate entry of large ships that cannot berth now at Chittagong and Mongla ports on December 11, 2017.
Payra Sea Port is the third sea port of Bangladesh located on the bank of the Rabnabad Channel in Kalapara of Patuakali district.The Payra Sea Port Act 2013 was passed by Parliament on November 10, 2013. The aim was to increase the economic activities in the central zone and meet the future demand.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had inaugurated the Payra Sea Port at Rabnabad Channel in Patuakhali district on November 19, 2013.
-Fakhruddin Mehedi, AA
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