The transport and communication sector are getting the highest allocation in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the budget of 2021-22. The allocation for the sector is Tk 61,631,41 crore.
For the first time, the biggest new budget in terms of size of allocation of Tk six lakh crore has been placed which was disclosed on Thursday. The proposal was made by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal under the title, ‘Bangladesh towards a resilient future, protecting lives and livelihoods’, at a budget session chaired by Speaker Shirin Sharmin.
The budget size is Tk 6,03,681 crore for the fiscal year 2020-2021, which is 6.28 percent higher than the previous year.
The Finance Minister said the transport and communication sector is getting the highest allocation of ADP in the next 2021-22 fiscal year. A total of Tk 61,631 crore is being allocated in this sector, which is 26.48 percent of the total ADP.
The construction work of the Padma Bridge project is progressing in full swing even after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of February 2021, overall physical progress of the project is 84.50 percent. All-out efforts are being made to open the bridge to traffic by June next year.
In addition, the construction of 46.73 km Dhaka Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway is in going on in full swing. Up to February 2021, about 60 percent of the physical progress of the 1st part (Airport-Banani) has been achieved. The overall physical progress of the entire project is 24 percent. Construction of 20 km bus rapid transit (BRT) lane from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal
Construction of the 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.
Construction of 24 km Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Savar EPZ via Ashulia is going to be constructed by China National Import and Export Corporation (CMC) on a G-to-G basis.
Land acquisition for the project is currently underway. 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, feasibility study for construction of a tunnel under the Jamuna river and feasibility study for construction of subways in Dhaka city are underway. Besides, steps have also been taken to build some large bridges in different parts of the country.