Abdullah Rakib: An agreement was signed to install 20,600 energy efficient LED lamps on 466.74 kilometers of roads in 41 wards of the city. In July this year, Chittagong City Corporation signed an agreement with the Indian company Shaparji Palanji & Company. India is lending 82 percent of this project of 260 crore 89 lakh rupees. But in the meantime, instability started in the country due to the collapse of the government. In the current situation, Indian organizations are unable to start work even after receiving work orders. After completing all the preparations, the permission to start the work is not received from the Corporation.

Mahbub Hossain, local representative of Shaparji Palanji & Company, said, 'We have made all preparations to start the work. We have also written to the City Corporation last week to give permission to start the work. A million and a half dollars in collateral is stuck, but we can't begin work. We are worried about investment and timely start of work.

This is the biggest project in the history of Chittagong City Corporation in the lighting sector. However, the city corporation has no idea when the work of the discussed project will start.

Chittagong City Corporation Chief Executive Sheikh Touhidul Islam said, 'Loan has been taken for this project under India's line of credit. We also cannot say when the work will start in the changed situation. It is not possible without the government's permission.'

Meanwhile, the debt burden will increase if the project is delayed, experts said. In this case, they also advised to be careful in taking up projects with loans in the future.

Urban planner. Shah Jalal Mishuk said, 'Before taking these projects with loans, the priority should be decided as to how much it is benefiting the city dwellers. Otherwise these loans will be poison for the city dwellers. Source: Independent Television