Govt working on integrated multi-modal transport policy: Adviser
Monday, 23 June 2008
Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader Sunday said that the government is preparing an integrated multi-modal transport policy by incorporating highway, railway, inland waterway and airway into a unique system to develop a cost-effective and sustainable transportation in the country, reports BSS
"Our objective is to establish a safe, efficient, sound and environment friendly transportation system with rail, road, waterway and airway to be complimentary to each other," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop in the city.
The draft of the 'Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Policy' (IMTP) was presented at the workshop, jointly organised by the Ministry of Communications and the Planning Commission at a city hotel.
The Transport Sector Management Reform (TSMR) project, supported by the UK's Department For International Development (DFID), formulated the draft with a long-term vision to develop an efficient transport system for supporting a strong and prosperous economy.
Presided over by the transport policy adviser of TSMR project Dr M Rahmatullah, the function was also addressed by Secretary of the Roads and Railway Division Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department M Nihar Miah, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Abdul Mannan Hawladar and team leader of the TSMR project Sion Haworth.
The Adviser said the policy to be finalised soon after conducting a study focused on railway and inland water transport as per the directives of the Council of Advisers last year.
"We cannot forget the poorer section of the society earning less than a dollar a day who need an enabling transport system in both urban and rural areas," he said.
In this context, he added, inter-modal facilities can help foster transport-efficiency and shorten the routes by providing coordinated access to highways, railways and inland waterway together with modern services.
Quader also said that the government would like to focus more on inland water transport and railway as they are cheaper in terms of fare than the road transportation system.
"Presently, the country has 21,000 kms of road network, which was only 3,000 kms after the War of Liberation," he said adding, "the cost of road network system is the highest of all modes of transportation."
The Adviser said a fund would be floated soon for maintaining the existing road network. "If we are not able to maintain the roads, we will have to lose one million dollar per day in future," he said.
Quader also said that the government was planning to restore the navigability of rivers side by side with operating vessels with modern engine that would ultimately reduce the fuel consumption by 40 per cent.
The draft of Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Policy (IMTP) has set a target to increase freight service of the inland water transports by 20 per cent and restore navigability of all channels over the next 5 years.
"Our objective is to establish a safe, efficient, sound and environment friendly transportation system with rail, road, waterway and airway to be complimentary to each other," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop in the city.
The draft of the 'Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Policy' (IMTP) was presented at the workshop, jointly organised by the Ministry of Communications and the Planning Commission at a city hotel.
The Transport Sector Management Reform (TSMR) project, supported by the UK's Department For International Development (DFID), formulated the draft with a long-term vision to develop an efficient transport system for supporting a strong and prosperous economy.
Presided over by the transport policy adviser of TSMR project Dr M Rahmatullah, the function was also addressed by Secretary of the Roads and Railway Division Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department M Nihar Miah, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Abdul Mannan Hawladar and team leader of the TSMR project Sion Haworth.
The Adviser said the policy to be finalised soon after conducting a study focused on railway and inland water transport as per the directives of the Council of Advisers last year.
"We cannot forget the poorer section of the society earning less than a dollar a day who need an enabling transport system in both urban and rural areas," he said.
In this context, he added, inter-modal facilities can help foster transport-efficiency and shorten the routes by providing coordinated access to highways, railways and inland waterway together with modern services.
Quader also said that the government would like to focus more on inland water transport and railway as they are cheaper in terms of fare than the road transportation system.
"Presently, the country has 21,000 kms of road network, which was only 3,000 kms after the War of Liberation," he said adding, "the cost of road network system is the highest of all modes of transportation."
The Adviser said a fund would be floated soon for maintaining the existing road network. "If we are not able to maintain the roads, we will have to lose one million dollar per day in future," he said.
Quader also said that the government was planning to restore the navigability of rivers side by side with operating vessels with modern engine that would ultimately reduce the fuel consumption by 40 per cent.
The draft of Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Policy (IMTP) has set a target to increase freight service of the inland water transports by 20 per cent and restore navigability of all channels over the next 5 years.