The current interim government has formed a task force to evaluate the effectiveness of mega projects undertaken during the previous Awami League government. Recently, the task force completed its evaluation and submitted a report. The task force primarily focused on four projects: Mawa Expressway, Padma Rail Link, Karnaphuli Tunnel, and the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar Railway. However, the debt burden incurred for these projects is having an adverse impact on the country’s economy.

The committee stated that weak planning, improper utilization, and lack of integration with existing infrastructure have resulted in these projects not being profitable.

Dhaka-Mawa Expressway

This 55-kilometer expressway, built at a cost of approximately 200 crore BDT per kilometer, has increased traffic congestion in Dhaka city. Instead of decentralizing development, the expressway has intensified pressure on the capital. Due to a lack of industrialization in the southern districts, Dhaka’s dependency has not decreased.

Moreover, the absence of a ring road around the city causes traffic congestion at the entry points of expressways, reducing their effectiveness. Additionally, lack of proper safety measures, violations of traffic laws, and frequent road accidents have become regular occurrences on this expressway.

Padma Rail Link

Built at a cost of approximately 39,000 crore BDT, this railway line was designed to reduce travel time between Jessore and Dhaka. However, due to a shortage of trains, lack of coordination with existing roads, and insufficient stations, the project has yet to become profitable. The revenue generated is less than half of the expected amount.

Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar Railway Line

Constructed with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a cost of 18,000 crore BDT, this railway line has not yielded expected benefits due to a shortage of trains and opposition from bus owners. As a result, the route has not seen an adequate number of train operations, failing to ease the transportation struggles of Cox’s Bazar-bound tourists. Additionally, this railway line has contributed to severe flooding in the surrounding areas over the past few years.

Karnaphuli Tunnel

This 10,000 crore BDT tunnel was built to improve connectivity between the southern part of Chattogram and the rest of the city. However, due to a lack of connection with existing infrastructure and poor-quality roads on the southern end, the tunnel has not become profitable. Instead, the government has to provide a daily subsidy of approximately 25 lakh BDT to keep it operational.