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The government proposed an allocation of Tk 87,629 crore or 27.3 per cent of the development budget for the transport and communication sectors to continue an integrated approach for the development of roads, bridges, railways, sea routes and airlines in the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24).
“Our primary objective is to establish a domestic and international communication network…We are committed to ensuring timely completion of the ongoing projects,” said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in his speech while presenting the proposed national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad for FY24 on Thursday.
“Recognising the need for continuous improvement, we have taken up plans to upgrade 2,342 km of national highways to four-lanes, including the service lanes on both sides,” he said.
Besides, the construction of the Bangabandhu tunnel under the Karnaphuli River is nearing completion and is set to open for traffic soon. Dhaka Elevated Expressway, stretching over 46.73 km from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, is expected to be finished by June 2024.
The expressway will be opened from HSIA to Tejgaon by September 2023, a 20 km-long bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from HSIA to Gazipur is currently underway, and the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway has also commenced.
Congestion relief and safe roads
Minister Kamal said a comprehensive metro rail network comprising six lines is currently under construction in Dhaka metropolis and its surrounding areas. There is a plan to expand the Metrorail network to Kamalapur by 2025.
Moreover, construction of the 19.872 km long underground section of the metro rail from Kamalapur to Airport and the 11.369 km overground section from Notun Bazar to Pitalganj Depot has also started. Together, these two lines will stretch over 31.241 km with 21 stations. These sections are scheduled to become operational by 2026, he continued.
There are also plans to construct a long metro rail line covering a 17.20 km route from Gabtali to Aftabnagar, reaching Dasherkandi by 2030. A combined underground and overground stretch of 35 km will be built along the Gabtali-Kamalapur-Narayanganj and Golapshah Mazar-Sadarghat routes, the minister added.
According to the finance minister, implementation of some important projects is in progress to further enhance the railway infrastructure including Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, construction of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River, and establishment of dual gauge tracks from Dohazari to Ramu, extending to Cox's Bazar, as well as from Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar.
Development of trade-friendly waterways and ports
Kamal said, “We have given special emphasis on the development and management of sea, river, and land ports right from the outset. We are witnessing a consistent increase in the volume of ship arrivals and cargo handling at the ports year after year.”
Currently, the government is implementing the Matarbari Port Development Project to modernise the Mongla Port. In addition, the Payra Port is being transformed into a world-class seaport.
Construction of the third terminal building of HSIA is underway as well. Construction of the export-import cargo complex encompassing a total area of 63,000 square metres is scheduled to be completed by April 2024.
To facilitate the storage and handling of export goods, an Export Cargo Complex with a total area of 44,944 square feet has been constructed at the Sylhet Osmani International Airport, said Minister Mustafa Kamal.
