The Rooppur Nuclear Power Project is likely to get the highest allocation in the next budget to go for fast generation as the government is attaching importance to construction of other projects to stimulate the national economy amid COVID-19.
Construction projects of Payra Deep Sea Port and Karnaphuli Tunnel and the construction project of a single line dual gauge track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and from Ramu to Ghundhum will get due importance, Planning Commission sources said.
A draft budget of Tk 5 lakh 65 thousand crore has already been prepared. The budget has allocated Tk 2,05,145 crore for the Annual Development Program (ADP) for the next fiscal year 2020-21. Of this, Tk 15,828 crore will be allocated for the construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
Despite worldwide coronavirus scare, lockdown and stagnant economic system, the construction work of the country’s first nuclear power project is going on in full swing maintaining strict health security at Rooppur in Pabna district.
The power plant is being implemented by a subsidiary of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom. It is a top priority project on the Bangladesh government’s agenda, all the way up to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The cost of the project will be at Taka 1 lakh 13 thousand 92 crore 91 lakh. Of these, Russia will provide 90 percent of the total project cost.
The government hopes at least 1200MW unit of electricity from the first nuclear plant will be added to the national grid by 2023. The second with the same amount of power will be launched by 2024.
Once the nuke plant goes into operation, it will offer a window of opportunities, such as ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to over 15 lakh families and jobs for a large number of people.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is planned and being constructed according to Russian design. The plant will have two power units with latest generation 3+ VVER 1200 reactor, which will fully meet all international safety requirements.
On the other hand, the Payra Deep Sea port project will get an allocation of Tk 700 crore. The Payra Port Authority began constructing the government's fast-track project worth Tk3,982 crore in January 2019. The work is scheduled to be completed by December 2021.
As per the project proposal, the work of Package 2 has been divided into two lots. At Lot 1, the following are planned: a yard, a terminal, a shed, a workshop, a fire station, some parts of trestles, and some related infrastructure. Tenders for this lot have been invited. Meanwhile, Lot 2 will see the jetty, some parts of trestles, and required infrastructure constructed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in November 2013 inaugurated Payra Port, the country's third largest sea port. Three years later, in August 2016, the port began operating unloading stones imported from China for the Padma Bridge.
Construction of the necessary infrastructures is underway to launch the Deep Sea Port on a small scale. One of the challenges is the construction of the terminal that will be 600 meters long. First the rocks and coal will come by sea. The terminal will have all the infrastructural facilities like unloading of goods of a huge ship.
The government will build not only terminals, but also connect roads around the port, bridges over the Andharamanik River and ancillary facilities. With the construction of the first terminal, the connecting road will also be four lanes.
Besides, construction of the 3.4 km Karnaphuli tunnel under the Karnaphuli river has spurred industrialisation in Anowara and Karnaphuli upazilas of Chattogram. Around 53 percent work has been done.
The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone being built on 781 acres of land in Anowara on the south bank of the river will create some two lakh jobs.
Its officials said $270 million would be spent for road construction and utilities inside the zone. The tunnel will link Chattogram city with villages in Anowara and Karnaphuli. It will also elevate upazila sadars to towns.
According to the project's feasibility study, 63 lakh vehicles will use the tunnel in the first year of its opening. The road that will go to Cox's Bazar through the tunnel will ultimately be extended to China's Kunming city through Myanmar.
The tunnel will start from the Bangladesh Naval Academy point and will end in the mid-point of Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company and Chattogram Urea Fertiliser Limited. It will be 18-31 metres deep under the riverbed. Two tubes will be built that the vehicles will use to enter and exit the port city.
The project was started from 2015. It was expected to complete the total work by end of 2022. However, now it may delay due to coronavirus. The estimated cost of the project is taka 9,880 crore. Of these, Exim bank of China will provide taka 5,913 crore as a loan. It has been allocated at taka 500 crore in the ADP to visible of the tunnel.
An allocation of taka 1,500 crore has been sought for the construction of a single line dual gauge track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and from Ramu to Ghundhum near Myanmar. The working progress of the project is only 36 percent but the work has now been stopped due to the coronavirus.