Dhaka: The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Thursday approved variation orders worth over Tk 3,200 crore for multiple packages under the SASEC Road Connectivity Project-2. This project is focused on transforming the Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur highway into a four-lane road.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the CCGP meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, took place at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was held following proposals from the Road Transport and Highways Division and is a collaborative project between the Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), implemented by the Roads and Highways Department.

Under package WP-05 (Part-1), the committee recommended a Variation Order-01, adding Tk 109.05 crore to the original contract, which now totals Tk 703.80 crore, marking an 18.34% increase. Abdul Monem Ltd was selected as the contractor.

For package WP-06 (Part-1), a Variation Order-02 was approved for Tk 291.83 crore, resulting in a revised contract value of Tk 941.56 crore, a 44.92% increase. HEGO-MIR AKHTER JV was the recommended contractor.

Package WP-07 (Part-1) saw a variation order of Tk 386.59 crore, bringing the contract’s total to Tk 1,178.96 crore, a 48.78% rise. Abdul Monem Limited was again chosen as the contractor.

The committee approved a Tk 267.87 crore variation order for package WP-08 (Part-1), with the contract now valued at Tk 815.93 crore, a 48.87% increase. CPC-TANTIA JV was the recommended contractor.

For package WP-09 (Part-1), a variation order of Tk 347.65 crore was approved, making the new contract value Tk 1,057.73 crore, which is 48.96% higher. KMC-MONICO JV was selected as the contractor.

The committee approved Variation Order-03 for package WP-10 (Part-1), involving Tk 130.64 crore. The revised contract value stands at Tk 1,100.89 crore, 44.96% above the original. China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corp Ltd was chosen as the contractor.

For package WP-11 (Part-1), a variation of Tk 256.57 crore was approved, raising the contract value to Tk 781.88 crore, a 48.84% increase. China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corporation Ltd was the recommended contractor.

Package WP-12 (Part-1) saw a variation order of Tk 93.64 crore, bringing the total to Tk 720.69 crore, a 48.84% increase. China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corp Ltd was again selected.

The committee approved Variation Order-01 for package WP-13 (Part-1), involving Tk 335.03 crore. The revised contract is Tk 1,073.44 crore, 45.37% higher. China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co Ltd was the contractor.

For package WP-14 (Part-1), a Tk 86.27 crore variation was approved, with the contract now valued at Tk 334.86 crore, a 34.70% increase. National Development Engineers Ltd was chosen.

Lastly, for package WP-15 (Part-1), a Tk 58.76 crore variation order was approved, bringing the contract to Tk 204.05 crore, 40.44% higher. 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 a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity between the northern region and the rest of the country.