SANGSAD BHABAN, June 6, 2024 (BSS)- The government has allocated Taka 38,143 crore
for the Road Transport and Highways Division in the proposed budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25.

The allocation is Taka 4,778 core higher than the revised budget of Taka 39,710 crore of the previous FY 2023-24.

In his speech, Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali said in the past 15 years, a total of 78,215 kilometers of paved rural roads have been constructed and 1,25,973 kilometers of paved rural roads have been maintained.

Intheurbansector,11,522kilometersofroads/sidewalks, and 4,715 kilometers of drains have
been constructed, he said.

He said the government is continuously working to develop a modern and sustainable highway
network by adopting an integrated action plan in line with the vision of making Bangladesh a developed nation as articulated in the Perspective Plan-2041. At the same time, planning and implementation of modernization of motor vehicle management including the
introduction of high-speed public transport system (MRT and BRT) to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka metropolis is underway.

 As part of building the communication network, 1,439 bridges were constructed/reconstructed on different highways. As a result, a well-developed highway infrastructure spanning 22,476 km across the country today ensures smooth and uninterrupted transportation of goods and passengers. 851.62 km of National Highways have been upgraded to 4-lane and above under various completed and ongoing projects, he said.

Ali said there are plans to construct 12 expressways and 10 more elevated expressways by
2041.

Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated a total of 100 bridges in 25 districts of 07 divisions across the country, with a total length of 5,494 meters.

 Besides, 100 highways have been developed in 50 districts of eight divisions, he added.

He said a strong network consisting of 6 Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or Metrorail is being built under Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) to reduce traffic congestion and
improve the environment in Dhaka city and adjacent areas.

 Already MRT Line-6 has been launched up to Motijheel, which has been hugely appreciated by men and women alike as a fast, pollution-free, time-saving, state-of-the-art urban transport. The rest of MRT Line-6 will be completed by June 2025.

The finance minister said the construction work of MRT Line-1 and MRT
Line-5: Northern Route is progressing rapidly as per the target.

He said construction of 46.73 km long elevated expressway (19.73 km long
main elevated expressway and 27 km long ramp) under the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) initiative from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to
Kutubkhali on Dhaka-Chattogram highway is underway to decongest Dhaka
City. Meanwhile, the section starting from Kawla on the south of Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport to Hatir Jheel has been opened for traffic, he
said.

Ali said construction of 20 km Bus Rapid Transit or BRT lane from Gazipur
to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is progressing rapidly. Already, 4.5
kilometers from Uttara BNS Center to Tongi Cherag Ali Market towards
Dhaka and two lanes towards Mymensingh have been opened for traffic.

He said the construction of the 24 km long Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated
Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Savar EPZ via
Ashulia is progressing rapidly.

 Work on the Dhaka-Joydebpur-Devgram-
Bhulta-Madanpur    access-controlled highway is progressing rapidly under
the PPP arrangement.

 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.