The Road Transport and Highways Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) has sought an additional allocation of Tk 15 billion (1,500 crore) for implementation of its mega and metro-rail projects properly.
Officials said Tk 71.98 billion had been allocated in the medium-term budgetary framework (MTBF) for the fiscal year (FY) 2015-16. Of the amount, Tk 22.73 billion and Tk 49.25 billion have been earmarked for its non-development and development sectors respectively.
About Tk 43.98 billion will have to be provided in favour of the Roads and Highways Department from the development fund of Tk 49.25 billion for the next FY.
But an additional amount of Tk 13 billion will be required for the Roads and Highways Department in the FY 2015-16 for implementation of its work plans, according to the sources.
Besides, another additional amount of Tk 2.0 billion will also be required from the budget of the next FY for execution of the metro rail project with the extra fund totalling Tk 15 billion.
The Planning Commission (PC) may approve 10 area-wise district road development projects any time this fiscal. Tk 5.0 billion out of the additional amount of Tk 15 billion would be required for execution of the projects, a high official of the MoRTB said.
Implementation of the Western Bangladesh Bridges Improvement Project, construction of a link road of the Matarbari Coal-Fired Power Plant, construction of the Kalna bridge over the river Modhumoti and the marine drive project (3rd) in Cox's Bazar will start in the next FY. So, another Tk 5.0 billion out of the aforesaid amount would be needed for the projects, he said.
Besides, for proper implementation of mega and fast-track projects in the next FY, the remaining Tk 5.0 billion would also be needed along with the fixed allocation, he mentioned.
An official said secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division of the MoRTB M A N Siddique recently sent a letter to Senior Secretary of Finance Division under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Mahbub Ahmed, seeking Tk 15 billion.
Meanwhile, a competent source at the Road Transport and Highways Division said if the additional fund was not allocated, the projects would suffer a setback.
About 126 projects are being implemented under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the current FY under the Road Transport and Highways Division. The division has taken a plan to complete 55 projects out of 126 in the current FY.
Currently, there are 21,571 kilometres of highways, 4,507 bridges, 13,751 culverts and 49 ferry services under Roads and Highways Division.
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