The volume of implementation is 11 percent less than the 49.75 percent achieved in the corresponding period of FY2003-04, an ADP review meeting at Railway Bhaban chaired by Communications Minister Nazmul Huda was told yesterday.

Out of a Tk 778.03-crore allocation against 27 major development projects, the BR could spend only Tk 273.28 crore until March.

"The pace of ADP project implementation was slow due to delays in funding and procurement of project equipment," Huda told newsmen after the meeting.

He said many ADP projects of Bangladesh Railway (BR) are only being launched after getting funding commitments from donors.

At the meeting, Huda asked the railway officials to accelerate the pace of ADP project implementation. He blasted them for a rising number of thefts and said the BR would not be a losing concern if the stealing were stopped.

He asked them to take stern actions against the thieves including filing cases with the police stations or face such actions themselves.

Huda also directed the BR to raise its earnings by utilising its 67,000 acres of land commercially.

The Railway Department has undertaken 22 package initiatives to repair the damage to BR infrastructure in last year's severe flooding, the minister told reporters. "Tenders have already been floated and I hope the repairs would start in the next dry season."