An agreement was signed on Wednesday to expedite a project which is aimed at expanding and strengthening the electric distribution system in the Dhaka city. The total cost of the project is TK 20,000 crore. The state owned Dhaka Electricity Distribution Company (DPDC) signed the deal with a consultant firm – Hifab Oy of Finland and Bangladesh Engineers and Consultants Bangladesh Limited (ECBL) Joint Venture Company held at Mukti Hall, Bidyut Bhaban in the capital. DPDC Secretary Asaduzzaman and regional director of Hifab Nathalie Tranfeld signed the contract on behalf of their respective companies.
Witnessing the signing ceremony as the chief guest, State Minister for Power Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the project will help to supply uninterrupted electricity in Dhaka city. Once the project is implemented the scenario of Dhaka city will be changed. Nasrul said the project finance by Chinese government will be implemented under government to government method considering very important project.
He directed officials concerned to complete the Expansion and Strengthening of Power System Network project in time.He also directed two managing directors of power distribution companies in Dhaka city for holding talks with authorities concerned of internet and dish line within next month.‘The line is a big obstacle for uninterrupted power supply. As soon as possible all hanging cables attached with power lines will be removed,” the state minister said.
He further said that substations will be erected to make it secured alongside to give the look neat and clean.DPDC Managing Director Engineer Bikash Dewan said the initiative was taken to strengthen Dhaka’s power distribution system with the help of China. The appointment of consultant was very important for implementation of the project-Expansion and Strengthening of Power System Network under DPDC area.
‘The consultant firm will work worth TK 97 crore for five years of the project,’ he added.According to the project details, Chinese contactor- Tebian Electric Apparatus-will implement the project at a cost of Taka 20,468 crore, of which Bangladesh government will give Taka 7,441 crore, DPDC will give Taka 1,249 crore, while China will provide Taka 11,777 crore.
Board Chairman of DPDC and Additional Secretary Mohammad Shafiqullah, said, “We have to work for improvement of power system in Dhaka.”Among others ECBL’s Managing Director Kazi Kamal Uddin Akram and regional director of Hifab Nathalie Tranfeld also spoke on the occasion.
