UNB, Dhaka :
The 6.5-kilometer Padma Multipurpose Bridge will be constructed by 2018, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said in his budget speech on Thursday terming it the government’s top priority project.
“The construction of Padma Bridge is underway despite myriads of difficulties. The construction of approach roads from both directions is progressing well,” he said in placing the FY2014-15 national budget in parliament.
He hoped that the construction of main bridge will kick-start this month and the engagement of contractors for river training will take place in July-August.
The finance minister said the Padma Bridge will create a direct road link between 19 districts of south-west region and Dhaka along with northern region of Bangladesh.
“Once completed, this will induce a growth to the tune of 1.2 percent of GDP per year,” he said.
The priorities of the government for the current regime are construction of a tunnel underneath the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong, conversion of nationally important highways into four lanes gradually, continuation of investment to reform and modernise railways, construction of circular rail road track around Dhaka city, construction of the 3rd Sea port at Payra in Patuakhali, construction of a sea port and an LNG terminal at Moheshkhali, making Biman a profitable organisation by improving its management and enhancing the capacity of passenger transport, he noted.
A total of Tk 24437 crore under both development and non-development sectors has been allocated for the transport and communication in the proposed budget, while the figure was in the 2013-2014 revised budget.
