The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is likely to provide US$ 4.62 billion to develop the road and rail infrastructure for ensuring the sub-regional connectivity in next four years up to 2022.
The fact-finding mission visited Bangladesh from April 4-10 and confirmed a loan amounting to $ 1.6 billion for eight projects till 2020.
The mission also dropped a hint about extending support for other infrastructure development projects till 2022. The projects include Dhaka-Sylhet road project and Dhaka-Cumilla High Speed Train project under South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).
Officials said the 'success of the mission' was the Dhaka-Sylhet project included in the pipeline project as it was dropped earlier.
The feasibility study on the project and its detailed design works were done with financial support of the ADB, but its funding was uncertain as the government decided to go for Chinese loan for it.
The ADB mission on the proposed Transport Connectivity Improvement Preparatory Facility sat with senior officials and chiefs of road transport and bridges and railway ministries as well as its agencies including Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Railway and finalised the funding needed to implement the projects.
According to the confirmation, $ 800 million is set to be provided for Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Railway Project Phase 1 and Dhaka-Northwest Corridor Road project Phase 2 under SASEC this year. Besides, $ 82 million will be provided for Dhaka Metro project and Transport Connectivity Improvement Preparatory Facility in 2019.
Among the next year's projects, the bank has confirmed lending worth $ 800 million for Port Link Road Widening Project, Tongi-Akhaura Dual Gauge Project Phase 1, Dhaka-South Corridor Road Project, Phase 1 under SASEC and Integrated Border Management.
By 2020, the bank is set to provide $ 1.6 billion for the rail and road development as the project areas are under the SASEC corridor.
However, sources said three more projects are in the pipeline including Dhaka-Northwest Corridor Road project Phase 3, and Railway Connectivity Dhaka-Cumilla High Speed Train project.
If the agencies concerned -RHD and BR - could make due progress, the ADB is likely to provide a loan of $ 900 million more by next year.
Among these pipeline projects, high-speed train project, Laksam-Chattogram Dual Gauge project and Dhaka-Chattogram Expressway Investment programme have been put for potential funding projects in 2021.
But the mission confirmed $ 100 million for Inland Container Depot Development project taken up by BR. ADB will provide loan for the project in 2021.
In 2022, the mission hinted about funding $ 300 for the fourth phase of Dhaka Northwest Corridor Road project.
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