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JS-37
BUDGET-ROAD-HIGHWAYS
Tk 32,942cr proposed for Road Transport and Highways Division
DHAKA, June 3, 2021 (BSS)-Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal
today proposed allocating Taka 32,942 crore for Road Transport and Highways
Division in the budget for 2021-22 fiscal.
A total of Tk 29,441 crore was proposed for the division in the last 2020-21 fiscal while Tk 30,118 has been kept in the revised budget, said the finance minister while placing the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad here.
In his budget speech, Mustafa Kamal said the government is working to build a modern and sustainable highway network.
With this, implementation of road safety measures, introduction of high-speed public transport system (MRT and BRT) to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka metropolis and modernization of motor vehicle management is underway, he said.
In the last 12 years, the finance minister said, the government has implemented 331 road development projects and adopted 452 new projects.
During this period, a total of 453.07 km of national highways has been upgraded to 4-lane and above, he said.
To continue with the momentum of development, he said, 26 large projects are being implemented by the Road Transport and Highways Division.
Kamal said the government has adopted a time-bound Action Plan 2030 to build a strong network of 128.741 km (67.569 km long elevated and 61.172 km long underground) with 140 stations (51 surface and 53 underground) under the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) comprising 6 metro rail lines through state-of-the-art public transport to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment of the Dhaka metropolitan city and surrounding areas.
Following this action plan, the construction of the first ever metro rail system (MRT Line-6) is going on in full swing from Uttara 3rd phase to Motijheel, which will be 20.10 km long with 16 stations and capable of transporting 60,000 passengers per hour through fast, safe, reliable, ecofriendly, and remotely controlled modern public transport system, he said adding that as of March 2021, the overall average progress is 61.49 percent, he added.
The minister said encouraged by the courageous and firm decision of the Prime Minister, the government has been able to start the construction of the 6.15 km long Padma Bridge using own funds and bring it to the final stage.
“To fulfill the pledge made in the Election Manifesto of 2018, we have taken up plans to implement some new mega projects, and fast track the implementation of some ongoing projects,” he said.
The construction work of the Padma Bridge project is progressing in full swing even after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that as of February 2021, overall physical progress of the project is 84.50 percent.
The minister said all-out efforts are being made to open the bridge to traffic by June next year.
He said construction of 20 km bus rapid transit (BRT) lane from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is progressing fast.
After completing the installation of ring of the first tube, construction of the second tube of the 3.32 km Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel at the bottom of Karnafuli river and other construction works are progressing, and 65 percent of physical work has already been completed, he added.
Besides, construction of a bridge over Meghna river on Bhulta- Araihazar-Bancharampur road, construction of Kalabadar and Tetulia bridges on Barisal-Bhola road, feasibility study for construction of a two- storey road from Mithamoin Cantonment to Marichkhali in Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj district, feasibility study for construction of Inner Elevated Expressway and feasibility study for construction of a tunnel under the Jamuna river and feasibility study for construction of subways in Dhaka city are underway, he said.
BSS/MKD/GA/1856 hrs