Staff Reporter

The cost of a road development project connecting the Karnaphuli Tunnel with Anwara Upazila in Chattogram has increased by Tk 56.9 crore following approval from the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase.

The committee also approved a separate proposal to award Rana Builders a contract worth Tk 266.14 crore for developing the link road from the Karnaphuli Tunnel’s Anwara end to Gachhbari on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held on Thursday (November 12), chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to meeting sources, Rana Builders (Private) Limited has been selected to implement a package under the project titled “Development of the Link Road from Karnaphuli Tunnel (Anwara) to Gachhbari on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway (Z-1040).” The contract value has been set at Tk 266 crore, 14 lakh and 62 thousand 949.

Meanwhile, the committee approved an additional expenditure of Tk 56.90 crore under the first revision of the project to upgrade the Shikalbaha-Anwara road, including the Karnaphuli Tunnel link road and Anwara Upazila connecting road, into a four-lane highway.

The original contract value of the project was Tk 266.14 crore. Under Variation Order-1, an additional Tk 56 crore, 90 lakh, 7 thousand and 315 has been proposed, bringing the revised contract value to Tk 323 crore, 4 lakh, 70 thousand and 265.

The increase represents approximately 21.379 per cent of the original contract value.

The project aims to upgrade the Shikalbaha-Anwara National Highway to four lanes. It also includes the construction of a separate lane for slow-moving vehicles, widening of the road embankment and plantation of trees along the road median.

A joint venture comprising National Development Engineers Limited, Hasan Techno Builders Limited and Taher Brothers Limited is responsible for implementing the project.