Some Tk 694.17 billion has been proposed in the budget for the transport and communication sector to introduce more mega projects as well as to complete the Padma Bridge construction in the fiscal year (FY) 2021-22.
The proposed budget for the upcoming FY is 12.18 per cent higher than the budget allocated in the current fiscal. The government allocated Tk 614.47 billion for the transport and communication sector after revision from the proposed budget of Tk 645.79 billion.
In the budget speech on Thursday, Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal said the government has been working relentlessly to build an integrated domestic and international communication network through continuous investment in roads, bridges, railways, waterways and airways by giving paramount importance to building the country as a developed one by ensuring modern, safe, sustainable and environment-friendly transport and communication infrastructure.
"To fulfill the pledges made in the Election Manifesto of 2018, we have taken up plans to implement some new mega projects, and ensure fast-track execution of some ongoing projects," he added.
The minister said the 6.15-kilometre-long Padma Bridge is at final stage, while passenger transport in Uttara-Agargaon section of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 will start by December 2022. The government earlier declared launching of the first part of the MRT-6 by this December.
The proposed budget showed the highest allocation of Tk 329.42 billion for the Road Transport and Highways Division, followed by the Ministry of Railways Tk 175.42 billion, the Bridges Division Tk 98.20 billion, the Ministry of Shipping Tk 51.37 billion, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Tk 40.32 billion.
In FY 2020-21, Tk 294.41 billion was recommended for the Road Transport and Highways Division, Tk 163.26 billion for the Ministry of Railways, Tk 79.80 billion for the Bridges Division, Tk 40 billion for the Ministry of Shipping, and Tk 36.88 billion for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
The Ministry of Finance cut budgets for the communication sector mega projects in the current FY to meet the increasing demand of other sectors following the coronavirus pandemic.
But, in the proposed budget, funds for all the mega projects, including the fast-track ones, were duly allocated against the demand placed by the respective implementing agencies.
In the budget speech, the finance minister mentioned about completion of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge construction by June 2022.
Tk 35 billion was allocated for the project in the next FY, according to project officials.
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority, its implementing agency, has so far spent 83.66 per cent or Tk 252.60 billion from the total cost of Tk 301.93 billion of the Padma Bridge project.
Project Director Shafiqul Islam said as the project would not be closed by next FY, some fund was kept for defect liability period after June 2022.
The second highest amount of Tk 32.27 billion budget was shown for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project, which is yet to reach construction stage.
The finance minister said the government is working to build a modern and sustainable highway network. To continue with the momentum of development, 26 large projects are being implemented by the Road Transport and Highways Division.
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD), which was allocated Tk 195.72 billion in the FY 2021-22, has included three new large projects to upgrade Dhaka-Sylhet and Sylhet-Tamabil highways into four-lane ones and develop Jashore-Jhenidah corridor.
In the railway sector, the budget has been allocated by taking into account 30-year master-plan and 8th five-year plan, under which 230 projects will be implemented in six phases at a cost of Tk 5.53 trillion.
Regarding the land- and sea-ports, the finance minister said the government is carrying out modernisation and renovation work of the ports to ensure uninterrupted transport of passengers and goods to increase efficiency of domestic and international land- and sea-ports.
He also said to expand and re-launch the international routes of Bangladesh Biman, various projects have been implemented.
"We expect that implementation of these projects will bring the desired growth in aviation sector," he added.
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