Tk38,143cr proposed for Road Transport and Highways Division

The government has allocated Tk 38,143 crore for the Road Transport and Highways Division in the proposed budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25.

The allocation is Tk 4,778 core higher than the revised budget of Tk 39,710 crore of the previous FY2023-24, reports BSS.

In his speech, Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali said in the past 15 years, a total of 78,215 kilometres of paved rural roads have been constructed and 1,25,973 kilometres of paved rural roads have been maintained.

In the urban sector, 11,522 kilometres of roads/sidewalks, and 4,715 kilometres of drains have been constructed, he said.

He said the government is continuously working to develop a modern and sustainable highway network by adopting an integrated action plan in line with the vision of making Bangladesh a developed nation as articulated in the Perspective Plan-2041. At the same time, planning and implementation of modernisation of motor vehicle management including the introduction of a high-speed public transport system (MRT and BRT) to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka metropolis is underway.

As part of building the communication network, 1,439 bridges were constructed/reconstructed on different highways. As a result, a well-developed highway infrastructure spanning 22,476 km across the country today ensures smooth and uninterrupted transportation of goods and passengers. 851.62 km of National Highways have been upgraded to 4-lane and above under various completed and ongoing projects, he said.

Ali said there are plans to construct 12 expressways and 10 more elevated expressways by 2041.

Recently, the prime minister inaugurated a total of 100 bridges in 25 districts of 07 divisions across the country, with a total length of 5,494 metres.

Besides, 100 highways have been developed in 50 districts of eight divisions, he added.

He said a strong network consisting of 6 Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or Metrorail is being built under Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment in Dhaka City and adjacent areas.

Already MRT Line-6 has been launched up to Motijheel, which has been hugely appreciated by men and women alike as a fast, pollution-free, time-saving, state-of-the-art urban transport. The rest of MRT Line-6 will be completed by June 2025.

The finance minister said the construction work of MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5: Northern Route is progressing rapidly as per the target.

He said construction of a 46.73 km long elevated expressway (19.73 km long main elevated expressway and 27 km long ramp) under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on Dhaka-Chattogram highway is underway to decongest Dhaka City. Meanwhile, the section starting from Kawla on the south of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Hatir Jheel has been opened for traffic, he said.

Ali said the construction of a 20 km Bus Rapid Transit or BRT lane from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is progressing rapidly. Already, 4.5 kilometres from Uttara BNS Centre to Tongi Cherag Ali Market towards Dhaka and two lanes towards Mymensingh have been opened for traffic.

He said the construction of the 24 km long Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Savar EPZ via Ashulia is progressing rapidly.

Work on the Dhaka-Joydebpur-Devgram-Bhulta-Madanpur access-controlled highway is progressing rapidly under the PPP arrangement.

A 39.23 km long Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway is planned to be constructed from Baliapur on the Dhaka-Aricha highway via Nimtoli-Keraniganj-Fatullah-Bandar to Langalbanda on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.