The Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) has warned that critical delays in road excavation permits are jeopardising the completion of a major power distribution infrastructure project aimed at improving the supply of electricity in Dhaka and Narayanganj.
According to a report from the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, the “Expansion and Strengthening of Power Distribution System in the Area under DPDC” (ESPESN) project has achieved 61% physical progress and 56% financial progress as of January 2025.
However, only 43% of the planned underground cables have been installed due to prolonged approval processes from multiple government agencies.
The ESPESN project, funded by a China G2G loan, includes the construction of 43 substations. While 10 substations are operational and another 10 are ready for commissioning, 9 remain stalled because power evacuation cables have yet to be installed.
The Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Ltd has submitted excavation permit requests to eight different agencies including roads and highway since 2021, but approvals have been slow, often coming with restrictive conditions or insufficient time for completion.
The DPDC has emphasized that without immediate approvals, it will be impossible to commission the remaining substations within the extended project deadline of November 2026. The delay threatens to disrupt efforts to ensure uninterrupted and stable electricity supply in key urban areas.
DPDC is urging the relevant authorities to expedite the permit approvals, particularly during the dry season (October–May), which is the optimal period for excavation work through separate official letters signed by DPDC company secretary KM Salauddin recently.