MoRTB seeks Tk 2.0b more to repair roads, bridges

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) has sought an extra allocation of Tk 2.0 billion to repair the roads and bridges affected by recent floods across the country, officials said.
RTB Minister Obaidul Quader has recently sent a letter to Finance Minister AMA Muhith, seeking the funds, they added.
Highways in the country's southern and eastern regions especially in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban and Rangamati have been damaged by heavy floods, the letter said.
Some 225 kilometres highways have got damaged in the region. Road pavements, bridges and culverts on Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Teknaf highways (N-1) have been severely damaged by floods. At the same time, regional and district highways in the area have also become unusable, the minister mentioned in the letter.
Besides, some 1,170 kilometres national, regional and district highways have been damaged across the country due to heavy rainfalls coupled with floods, he added.
The Road Transport and Highways Division had taken necessary initiatives to repair the damaged highways aiming to ensure smooth movement of vehicles, the letter said.
The government allocated Tk 136845.39 lakh under non-development sector for Road Transport and Highways Division in the current fiscal year, sources said.
But it is not possible for the authority concerned to maintain and repair the affected-highways with funds allocated by the government. So, an additional allocation would be needed for road repairs and their maintenance, the sources said.
Road Transport and Highways Division has 21,571 kilometres highways across the country.
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