BR to seek Tk 125b development budget for next FY

MUNIMA SULTANA

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) is likely to propose a demand for Tk 125.36 billon to implement its projects under the next Annual Development Programme (ADP), according to sources.

On the other hand, the railway authority has placed a demand for Tk 102.27 billion in the revised ADP for the FY 2024-2025, which is 36.08 per cent lower than the original budget of Tk 160 billion.

The RADP (Revised Annual Development Programme) allocation for the current fiscal year is also much lower than the previous years, as the state-owned train operator and development have set a trend of increasing the budget allocation and its revision since FY 2009-2010.

The revised demand for FY 2023-2024 was Tk 131.17 billion while it was Tk 125.96 billion in FY 2022-2023.

Officials, however, explained that the higher budget was sought due to some mega projects like Padma Bridge Rail Link, Jamuna Railway Bridge and Cox's-Dohazari rail track development projects.

They said as most of these projects are at the stage of defect liability period, demand for revised budget has been reduced.

But sources reveal that the BR has yet to get approval for many important projects while it needs allocation for many new projects including conversion of Chattogram-Dohazari metre gauge track into dual-gauge, Pubail-Dhirasram rail link and dual-gauge double line between Joydevpur-Ishurdi section. Besides, some important approved projects under the Indian Line of Credit could not make any progress due to prolonged inaction from the Indian side and contractors citing security concerns. These projects include dual-gauge railway line construction between Bogura and Shahid M Monsur Ali Station in Sirajganj and the 3rd and the 4th dual-gauge line in Dhaka-Tongi section and dual-gauge double lines in Dhaka-Joydevpur section.

In total, the BR submitted a demand for Tk 168.89 billion for the next FY, compared to a total of Tk 180.72 billion in the current fiscal year to cover operational and maintenance expenses as well as ADP implementation.

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