SANGSAD BHABAN, June 07, 2018 (BSS) – Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith today placed the proposed national budget for 2018-19 (FY 19) in the Jatiya Sangsad proposing Taka 33,494 crore for the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry with a view to develop transport system in the country.
“As a ratifier of United Nation Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-20 and SDGs, Government of Bangladesh targets to reduce the number of casualties due to road accidents to half of current rate by 2020 by building a modern, safe, environment-friendly and ICT-based road transport and control system,” he said, while placing the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Muhith proposed Taka 24,380 crore for the Road Transport and Highways Division, while Taka 9,114 crore has been allocated for Bridges Division with the aim of developing and constructing of the country’s roads and highways and bridges.
“We have undertaken 10 cluster projects in 10 road zones for appropriate standardization and widening of 1,140 km important regional highways of the country,” he said.
The minister said the government’s main goal in transport and communication sector is to ensure timely and efficient implementation of the ongoing activities and the improvement in post-implementation service delivery.
He said a total of 3,813 km national highways of the country will be upgraded to four lanes or above gradually under the projects.
Besides, the government has already upgraded 465 km roads to four lanes or above, while upgradation of another 436 km road in progress, he said, adding, “We have planned to build Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway to facilitate direct movement between North-Western to Eastern region of the country. It will be connected to the Asian Highway.”
Muhith said the government attaches special importance to damage control and to this end, axle load control station will be established by 2021 in 28 important places along the road network by 2021.
“Steps are being taken to construct/reconstruct 61 bridges for strengthening communication network in Western region of the country. More than half of the works of Padma Bridge have been done. Construction of 2nd Kanchpur, 2nd Meghna and 2nd Gomoti Bridge is underway,” he said.
The finance minister said, “We have a plan to build bridges over Golachipa, Payra and Kocha rivers and 2nd Padma Bridge at Paturia-Goalanda point. Memorandum of Understanding have been signed with China to build 9th (Bogha bridge), 10th (Mongla bridge), and 11th (Jhopjhopia 48 bridge) Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge. Moreover, construction of a tunnel on the Karnaphuli river bed has started. I hope to end this work by 2022.”
He said developing of internal road network in the city, mitigating traffic congestion from entry and exit points and building is planned, while integrated and modern public transport system for Dhaka and its suburbs, adding, “In the revised STP in 2016, for development of traffic management-traffic safety system and re-organising the bus transport sector.”
A large number of programmes including construction works of Bus Rapid Transit Corridor (BRTC), a 20km long road ranging from Shahjalal International Airport to Gazipur with capacity to carry 25,000 passengers both ways have started.
Construction work of Bangladesh’s and metro rail cum elevated MRT line-6, stretching from Uttara (third phase) to Bangladesh Bank is going on in full swing, Muhith added.