The construction work of three new land ports is likely to be delayed as the Planning Commission (PC) has yet to give approval to the proposals sent by the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA), officials said.
The BLPA sent development project proposals (DPPs) to the PC recently, seeking its approval for building the three land ports.
"We have sent DPPs to the PC for its approval for building new land ports. But we are yet to get its clearance," chairman of BLPA Tapan Kumar Chakravorty told the FE.
The PC may approve the proposals for building new land ports next year, although it was expected that approval would be given in the current year.
Asked when they expect to start building new land ports, Mr Chakravorty said, "We hope to start the construction work of new land ports by 2017."
"We are considering the proposals put forward by the BLPA for building new land ports. We hope approval will be given soon," a high official of the PC told the FE.
The new land ports will be built at Sheola in Bianibazar, Biloniya in Feni and Gobarakura-Karitoli in Mymensingh.
Besides, the BLPA will revamp two existing land ports -- Benapole and Bhomra.
The new land ports will be set up under the project titled "Bangladesh Regional Connectivity Project-I" at an estimated cost of Tk 5.50 billion. Of the total amount, 75 per cent will be provided by the World Bank (WB).
The new land ports will connect the north-eastern Indian states and other neighbouring countries, including landlocked Nepal and Bhutan.
The land ports will facilitate export-import activities and strengthen connectivity in the South Asia region.
These ports will be developed under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative to boost regional trade.
The BLPA chairman told the FE, "We are expecting to get approval from the PC within next few months for setting up new land ports."
He said 10 land ports are now in operation. The projects undertaken for building land ports at Tamabil in Sunamganj and Sonahat in Kurigram are underway.
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