A major Tk 205 billion project aimed at expanding and strengthening the power-system network in Dhaka has encountered significant setbacks, with the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd (DPDC) citing delays in land acquisition and road digging as key issues. The Economic Relations Division (ERD) has shown reluctance to grant DPDC’s request to extend the project deadline by two years to December 2026, leading to an apparent impasse.
The DPDC is executing this Chinese-funded megaproject to enhance its distribution capacity in the high-demand areas of Dhaka and its surroundings. Tabian Electric Apparatus (TBEA) Co. Ltd, a Chinese government-selected contractor, was awarded the contract for this substantial distribution project within DPDC’s jurisdiction. Defending its request for an extension, the DPDC highlighted that the Loan Agreement for the project became effective on November 25, 2019, with the project commencing on January 27, 2020, slated for completion by January 26, 2025.