The transport and communication sector will get the highest allocation in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the proposed budget for the FY2022-23.
Of the total ADP of Tk 246, 066.09 crore, the sector will get Tk 70, 695.52 crore followed by Tk 39, 412.36 crore (16.01pc) for power and energy and Tk 29, 081.38 crore (11.82pc) for education sector.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while presenting the budget in parliament yesterday said the government is always striving to develop a safe, sustainable, environment-friendly and affordable communication infrastructure.
“To this end, we are working to build an effective domestic and international communication network through integrated investment in roads, bridges, railway, water and air transports.”
For Dhaka City, the government is implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) to strengthen road safety, reduce traffic congestion and to develop an affordable public transport system.
In the last 13 years, the government has implemented 357 road development projects and taken up 448 new projects. At the same time, 173.20 km of national highways have been upgraded to four-lane or above.
Works are also underway to upgrade 914.84 km of highway to four lanes or above. Recently, constructions of the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway and the Gazipur-Tangail 6-lane road have been completed and opened to traffic.
Besides, works for upgradation of the Alenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur Highway and Chattagram-Cox’s Bazar Highway to four lanes are almost completed. Construction work has also begun to upgrade the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway to four lanes.
At present, 26 projects under the Road Transport and Highways Division are being implemented, he said.
About the Mass Rapid Transit in Dhaka Metropolitan City he said the construction of the first ever metro rail system from Uttara 3rd phase to Motijheel, which will be 20.10-km long with 16 stations, is at the final stage.
Moreover, the government has also taken up a plan to introduce an MRT system in Chattogram city, he said.
Status of transport and communication projects
According to the Finance Minister, while the much-awaited Padma Bridge is going to be open to traffic movement this month, construction of the 3.32-km Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karafuli River is expected to be open to traffic by December 2022.
Besides, a feasibility study for construction of a tunnel under the Jamuna River is going on.
The construction of 46.73-km Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway is in progress with the completion of 78.94 per cent construction work of the first part (Airport-Banani).
Sixty-nine per cent construction of 20-km Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lane from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been completed while Bus Rapid Transit from the Airport to Mohakhali is under consideration.
The land acquisition for the 24-km Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Savar EPZ via Ashulia is underway, he said.
Steps are being taken to build more elevated expressways and large bridges integrating the ongoing bridges, flyovers and tunnels.
Master plan for the development in the railway sector
As part of the 30-year revised Master Plan (2016-2045) of the Bangladesh Railway, connecting Dhaka with Cox’s Bazar, Mongla Port, Tungipara, Barishal, Chattogram Hill Tracts and other parts of the country will be done under the railway network.
The initiatives included establishing Trans-Asian Railway and Regional Railway Network and connecting important cities with nearest suburbs by introducing modern commuter train service.
nder this master plan, 230 projects will be implemented in six phases at a cost of Tk 5, 50,000 crore.
The overall progress of Padma Multipurpose Rail Link Project is 58 per cent while the overall progress of construction work of the double track dual gauge railway bridge on the river Jamuna is 40 per cent.
Moreover, 71 per cent construction work of the single line dual gauge track from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu and from Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar border has been completed.
In addition, approximately 90 per cent work of the Khulna-Mongla railway project has been completed. Construction work of Rupsha Rail Bridge is nearly completed.
The government has also taken initiatives to build a railway line from Bhanga in Faridpur to Payra Port via Barishal and Patuakhali to connect Payra Port with Padma Rail Link.
Development of trade-friendly waterways and ports
To expand the Chattogram Seaport and to upgrade it to a world-class one, construction of the Bay Terminal on the coast of Patenga-Halishahar adjacent to the port is underway.
After completion of the Bay Terminal, the turn-around time of vessels at the port will be reduced to 24-36 hours from the present 2.6 days, he said.
In addition, in order to cope with the future demand for international trade, the construction of the first deep seaport is going on in full swing at Matarbari.
Air communication
The third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be constructed by 2023.
Runway expansion and completed construction of new terminal building are going on in full swing at Cox’s Bazar Airport and development of infrastructure, runways, taxiways, hangers and import-export storage sheds at other domestic and international airports in the country are underway, he said.
