The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has sought Tk 10 billion in additional maintenance funds although the allocations made in the current year's budget have not yet been fully utilised.
Official sources said the fresh allocation has been sought from the development budget for road maintenance despite the department's failure to ensure proper use of the money allocated in the current year's revenue budget for the same purpose.
The RHD in the current financial year (FY) 2014-15 has already received Tk 14 billion from the revenue budget for road repair, maintenance and rehabilitation works across the country.
Road Transport and Bridges Ministry officials said the RHD has again sought nearly Tk 10 billion from the development budget for 10 road-maintenance projects, each costing nearly Tk 1.0 billion, under its 10 zones across the country.
The RHD recently sent 10 development project proposals (DPPs) to the Planning Commission (PC) for getting approval for the road-maintenance project.
All the projects have been proposed to be implemented between November 2014 and June 2016.
"Allocation of fresh funds from the development budget this year will be very difficult. Since the RHD sent the fresh projects, no specific funds are available under the annual development programme this fiscal," he said.
He said: "The government allocates substantial amount every year to repair and maintain the roads and highways across the county, but the condition of most of the roads remain dilapidated."
The official said already Tk 14 billion has been allocated in the current year's budget for repair and maintenance of the roads. "The additional Tk 10 billion funds from the development budget are difficult for the government to allocate in the same year."
According to the RHD's project proposals, the District Road Development for Rajshahi Zone will cost Tk 999.8 million, for Comilla Zone Tk 999.8 million, for Gopalganj Zone Tk 955.5 million, for Khulna Zone Tk 1.0 billion, Barisal Zone Tk 999 million, Dhaka Zone Tk1.0 billion, Mymensingh Zone Tk 997 million, Sylhet Zone Tk 999.6 million, Chittagong Zone Tk 999.7 million and for Rangpur Zone Tk 995 million.
Experts and officials said the public fund meant for the repair and maintenance of roads generally wasted as there are no strict oversights by the government monitoring agencies.
Although the Tk14 billion funds are available in the revenue budget for the RHD for repair and maintenance works, lack of timely and proper maintenance has kept the country's major roads and highways in dilapidated condition, insiders said.
Before the last Eid festival and rainy season, major highways were in bad shape.
Another Planning Commission official said four years ago, in the FY2011, the RHD received only Tk 9.17 billion for repair, maintenance and rehabilitation works of the roads and highways. The amount this fiscal has been increased to Tk14 billion.
In the just-concluded FY2014, the allocations from the revenue budget for the repair and maintenance of roads and highways was Tk 13.38 billion, considering the requirement of the RHD.
Since FY2014, the government discontinued allocation of money from the development budget.
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