Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government's priority for the next five years will be completing existing projects and bridging missing links in the country's infrastructure network.
This target will focus on maximising the utility of completed development projects, according to the minister.
Citing the success of the Padma Bridge and Karnaphuli Tunnel, Obaidul Quader noted that narrow roads to the tunnel limit its usage and toll revenue compared to the Padma Bridge.
He made these remarks on Tuesday during his first meeting with officials of the Bridges Division and Bangladesh Bridge Authority after being reappointed as the Road Transport and Bridges minister.
Highlighting the Padma Bridge's daily toll collection exceeding Tk 20 million, Quader described it as a "resounding success" for the Awami League government.
After several years of delay, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was opened for traffic on June 26, 2022. It is a success story of the government, said Obaidul Quader, also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League.
Compared to the bridge, the Karnaphuli Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in Chattogram, inaugurated in October 2023, generates only Tk 1 million in daily tolls.
Since its opening, the Padma Bridge has collected a total of Tk 12.52 billion in tolls, compared to Tk 107.2 million for the tunnel.
While admitting the Karnaphuli Tunnel's significance as the country's first river tunnel and its contribution to connecting remote areas, Quader talked about addressing limitations of the supporting infrastructure hindering its full potential.
Outlining the priorities for the next five years, Quader identified several key projects, including the Kochua-Betagi Bridge on Payra River, the Uttar Matlab-Gazaria road on Meghna-Dhonagota River and the elevated road project in Kishoreganj district.
The minister, however, did not respond to queries about any mega or fast-track projects to be undertaken during the government's current tenure.
Instead, he emphasised the timely completion of ongoing works like the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway and Bus Rapid Transit system, assuring their progress is on track.
Bridges Division Secretary Md Monjur Hossain was present at the meeting.
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