Land Acquisition Delays Hit 15 of 25 Axle Load Centers
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Land acquisition complications have halted the installation of axle load control centers, leaving the project in limbo. With the project’s term set to expire on 30 June, work on 15 out of 25 planned centers has yet to begin.
Out of the total project budget of Tk 1,609 crore, only Tk 453 crore - representing 28 percent - has been spent over the last seven years. Procurement remains trapped in the tendering phase; while Tk 275 crore was allocated for engineering and other equipment, progress in this sector is currently at zero.
Consequently, a proposal has been submitted to the Planning Commission to reduce the number of stations and extend the project deadline by two years to June 2028.
IMED Findings and Accountability
These details were revealed in a draft intensive monitoring report by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) regarding the project titled “Installation of Axle Load Control Centers at Source Points of Goods Transport on Important Highways under the Roads and Highways Department”.
IMED Secretary Sirajun Noor Chowdhury told Agamir Somoy, “What happened or did not happen in other years is not the main point. I will take special initiatives so that the implementation of IMED’s recommendations receives priority this year.”
He said that all evaluation reports would be compiled into a book and sent to high-level government offices to ensure that those responsible for these project setbacks are held accountable.
Land Acquisition and Utility Hurdles
The report indicates that 17 land acquisition cases are pending under 16 divisions of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD). Of these, only six cases are finalized.
Requests have been sent to the DC office for land handover in one case, estimates for three cases have been sent to the Ministry for approval, and estimates for six cases have yet to be received from the DC office. While Tk 176.70 crore was allocated for land acquisition, Tk 144.04 crore has been spent, highlighting the slow pace of the process.
Additionally, utility relocation - budgeted at Tk 17 crore - has seen only Tk 6 crore in spending because land has not been handed over in most instances. While work on approach roads, pavements, and drainage has been completed in 10 areas, the remaining 15 sites remain untouched due to land issues.
Procurement Failures and Design Flaws
The procurement process has faced significant delays. Two separate tenders for “Weigh in Motion” equipment - which allows vehicles to be weighed without stopping - failed to conclude.
The first was canceled due to a lack of suitable suppliers, and the second was scrapped after failing to get Ministry approval despite completing the evaluation. A third tender has yet to be called.
The report also highlighted severe management and design flaws. No internal or external audits have been conducted in the seven years since the project began, despite requirements for annual audits.
The project has seen four different Project Directors (PD), with tenures ranging from 30 months to as short as two months, violating Planning Commission directives for regular PD appointments in large-scale projects.
Furthermore, mandatory Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings were not held regularly.
Design flaws in the original Development Project Proposal (DPP) included insufficient height for warehouse buildings and an underestimation of user capacity, which had to be increased from 100 to 200 in the revised proposal. The initial design for boundary walls also failed to account for necessary foundations.
