Cost of Khanpur terminal project in Narayanganj to rise by 57%
The project, initiated in 2020 to enhance container and bulk transportation facilities in and around Dhaka, has seen its cost rise due to design adjustments and additional features
The cost of the Khanpur Internal Container and Bulk Terminal project in Narayanganj is set to increase by 57%, from Tk392 crore to Tk615.75 crore, as proposed by the Ministry of Shipping.
The first revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) will be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval today (8 January), according to Planning Commission officials.
The project, initiated in 2020 to enhance container and bulk transportation facilities in and around Dhaka, has seen its cost rise due to design adjustments and additional features.
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The RCC multi-purpose jetty has been redesigned to handle five tonnes of live load per square metre, up from two tonnes, following international standards.
According to a shipping ministry official, the soft soil conditions at the construction site also increased foundation costs.
Furthermore, the riverbank slope protection has been replaced with vertical protection piles, and the height of storage godowns has been raised from six metres to 12.10 metres.
These changes have contributed to the cost escalation.
Additional features, including a fire-fighting system, 11 kVA HT lines, underground main electrical lines, 17 high-mast towers, a substation, diesel generators, and a solar power system, have also increased the estimated expenditure.
Initially scheduled for completion by June 2023, the project timeline has been extended twice due to complications, with the new deadline set for June 2027.
Only 10% of the physical work is complete, with financial progress at 3.82%.
According to the project document, the terminal aims to integrate Bangladesh's freight transportation system, boosting trade and industrial activities in Dhaka and its surrounding regions, including Narayanganj, Gazipur, Savar, and Narsingdi.
As per the Shipping Ministry official, the project is expected to improve cargo transport efficiency from Chattogram and Mongla ports while enabling container transportation to areas previously unreachable. It will also foster business opportunities through the development of transit sheds, storage yards, and multi-purpose jetties.
Once completed, the terminal will modernise Bangladesh's freight system and strengthen the country's position in global trade.
