Transport sector to get Tk 77.2b in budget
Friday, 20 May 2011
FHM Humayan Kabir
Transport sector is set to bag Tk77.20 billion funds in the next development budget, 47 per cent higher than current outlay, to upgrade the country's rickety infrastructure and build the Padma Bridge, officials said Thursday. Planning ministry officials said the government in the current development budget has allocated Tk52.42 billion to develop infrastructure of this sector which includes communications, shipping and civil aviation ministries. The planning commission has framed a draft annual development programme (ADP) budget for the next financial year (FY) 2011-12, giving the second highest allocation to the impoverished transport sector. Out of proposed Tk 77.20 billion funds, some Tk44.05 billion will be mobilised as project aid from donors and the remaining Tk33.15 billion from the government's domestic resources, a senior planning commission official told the FE. He said the Roads and Highways Department and Bridge Divisions under the communications ministry are set to get the highest allocation of Tk46.24 billion out of the total fund to develop the country's poor transport facilities. "Padma Bridge construction project alone will get some Tk24 billion allocations in the next year's ADP as its construction is expected to begin next fiscal," he said. Since the Padma Bridge is the highest priority project of the government, it will get the highest fund as the single project and we will keep room to increase its allocation in future, the official said. The Railway Division will also bag Tk23.09 billion in the 2011-12 budget where the Indian US$1.0 billion credit contributes a major portion of its total funds. "We have proposed to give bloated allocation to the Bangladesh Railway as the state-owned railway has undertaken a good number of schemes to develop its ailing service," the planning commission official said. The Shipping Ministry will get Tk4.72 billion funds for development of water communications facilities in the country. Of the allocation, the Mongla Port Authority will get Tk700 million funds for revamping the import and export facilities at the country's second largest seaport. The planning commission will allocate Tk3.15 billion for the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry in the next ADP to upgrade the air communications and develop airports facilities.
Transport sector is set to bag Tk77.20 billion funds in the next development budget, 47 per cent higher than current outlay, to upgrade the country's rickety infrastructure and build the Padma Bridge, officials said Thursday. Planning ministry officials said the government in the current development budget has allocated Tk52.42 billion to develop infrastructure of this sector which includes communications, shipping and civil aviation ministries. The planning commission has framed a draft annual development programme (ADP) budget for the next financial year (FY) 2011-12, giving the second highest allocation to the impoverished transport sector. Out of proposed Tk 77.20 billion funds, some Tk44.05 billion will be mobilised as project aid from donors and the remaining Tk33.15 billion from the government's domestic resources, a senior planning commission official told the FE. He said the Roads and Highways Department and Bridge Divisions under the communications ministry are set to get the highest allocation of Tk46.24 billion out of the total fund to develop the country's poor transport facilities. "Padma Bridge construction project alone will get some Tk24 billion allocations in the next year's ADP as its construction is expected to begin next fiscal," he said. Since the Padma Bridge is the highest priority project of the government, it will get the highest fund as the single project and we will keep room to increase its allocation in future, the official said. The Railway Division will also bag Tk23.09 billion in the 2011-12 budget where the Indian US$1.0 billion credit contributes a major portion of its total funds. "We have proposed to give bloated allocation to the Bangladesh Railway as the state-owned railway has undertaken a good number of schemes to develop its ailing service," the planning commission official said. The Shipping Ministry will get Tk4.72 billion funds for development of water communications facilities in the country. Of the allocation, the Mongla Port Authority will get Tk700 million funds for revamping the import and export facilities at the country's second largest seaport. The planning commission will allocate Tk3.15 billion for the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry in the next ADP to upgrade the air communications and develop airports facilities.