The construction work of Meherpur Nursing College has not been completed even in five years.
Sources said the cost of the project has also gone up as the construction work, which started in 2019, is now going on at a snail’s pace.
The duration of the project has been extended three times and it expired in January this year. The project was initially estimated to cost Tk 30.39 crore but that has now increased to Tk 39.6 crore.
According to the sources of the Department of Public Health Engineering, the duration of the project has been extended three times and it ended in January this year. Forty percent of the work still remains unfinished. A contractor named Pius Construction of Sirajganj is carrying out the work.
Abdul Malek, an official of the contracting company, said the deadly coronavirus spread in the country at the beginning of the construction of this nursing college and the construction work had to be stopped for this reason. Later, the price of construction materials increased to a great extent and the work is now being carried out slowly due to fear of heavy loss. Most of the work is completed while the rest of the construction work will be carried out in the current duration.
Sources in the Department of Public Health Engineering and Meherpur General Hospital said Meherpur General Hospital proposed building a nursing college to produce qualified nurses through experienced teachers. The government responded to the proposal. In 2019, the construction work of 180-seat nursing college started. Initially, the cost of the project was estimated at Tk 30.39 crore. Later, the cost increased to about Tk 39.6 crore and it may rise further.
While visiting the nursing college premises, this correspondent found that the interior of the four-storey college building has not been plastered. The work of bathrooms has not been completed yet and there is a layer of dust on the floor. The outer walls are not plastered. Only five workers were working at a slow pace.
At that time, a van driver entered there with some glass windows. He did not know where the windows will be taken. This correspondent also found that the construction workers were working on building walls on both sides of the front of the college building. Sometimes a few people from Chuadanga come and leave after seeing the work.
A construction worker said, “We have to work according to the instructions of the contractor.”
When asked about this matter, Abdul Malek, who is in charge of project supervision, said after the completion of the pillar and four-storey roof welding work, electrical connection, water line, grill work, floor tiles and other works will be carried out.
Hasibus Sattar, superintendent of Meherpur General Hospital, said, "If the construction of a college takes five years, how can rapid development be possible? Students of this area could join work after completing their studies during the period. General Hospitals also get more skilled nurses.”
Abdul Quader, deputy assistant engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering in Chuadanga, said they are urging the contractor to complete the work quickly. But the contractor is taking time extension from the higher authorities.
Acting Civil Surgeon Dr Alok Kumar Das said the nursing college is being built with a goal and purpose. But due to the negligence of the contracting organisation, the goal cannot be fulfilled so far. “I want the work to be completed quickly so that the people of the area get benefits of the institution,” he added.
