Tk67,485cr proposed for transport sector

The government has proposed Tk67,485 crore for the transport sector in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. 

Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali made the proposal during his budget speech at the Parliament today (6 June).

In his budget speech, Mahmood Ali shed light on the development in the transport sector made under the Awami League-led government in the last 15 years. 

"We have almost tripled the district, regional and national highways from 12,018 km to 32,678 km and increased 76 times the rural roads from 3,133 km to 2,37,446 km.

"The total railway has increased by one and a half times from 2,356 km to 3,486 km," he added.

Besides, the minister disclosed a number of upcoming development initiatives in the transport and communication sector. 

He said a 39.23 km long Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway is planned to be constructed from Baliapur on the Dhaka-Aricha highway via Nimtoli-Keraniganj-Fatullah-Bandar to Langalbanda on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

Moreover, there are plans to construct 12 expressways and 10 more elevated expressways by 2041, he added.

The finance minister has proposed a Tk38,143 crore (4.79% of total budget) allotment for the Road Transport and Highways Division for the 2024-25 fiscal year. 

Regarding railways, the finance minister said, "We are working to develop the railway sector as a cost-effective and safe means of transportation of passengers and goods.

"It is to be noted that in the next fiscal year, new 20 metre-gauge diesel electric locomotives as well as 150 metre-gauge passenger carriages will be added and 100 rehabilitated MG passenger carriages will be added to the rail transport."

This will enhance passenger service quality, freight capacity, operational efficiency and revenue of railways, expected the minister.

Meanwhile, the finance minister proposed a Tk18,072 crore (2.26% of total budget) allotment for the Ministry of Railway and a Tk11,270 crore (1.41% of total budget) allotment for the Ministry of Shipping.

The allocation for Road Transport and Highways Division in the new budget is Tk4,779 crore more than the last revised budget. Allocation in this sector was Tk34,819 crore in the last FY.

The revised budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year was Tk33,364 crore, including Tk27,803 crore allocated for development expenditure and Tk5,561 crore for operating costs.

This time, Tk32,042 crore has been proposed for the development expenditure while the rest Tk6,101 crore as operating cost. 

In his budget speech, the finance minister stated that a total of 851.62 kilometres of national highways has been upgraded to four lanes or more, as part of various completed and ongoing projects managed by the Department of Roads and Highways.