The highest allocation for a single project is going to be sought for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project in the upcoming budget, with the Bangladesh Bridge Authority officials saying the amount will be Tk7,400 crore.
Bridges Division sources said the BBA would also seek Tk1,400.71 crore for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project.
BBA officials said Tk8,100 crore was earmarked in the current fiscal year’s budget for the Padma bridge project as it was given the top-most priority, but the authorities concerned could spend Tk4,500 crore and the remaining amount remain unutilised. They said the total allocation could not be spent because of the delay in starting work at the field level.
The government will again deem the Padma Bridge a mega project, and the target will be to complete it by December 2018, according to BBA officials.
The Dhaka Elevated Expressway project got an allocation of Tk600 crore in the current budget but BBA officials said the total expenditure climbed to Tk696 crore.
An allocation of more than Tk1,000 crore will be sought for the project in the next budget only for the rehabilitation of people who were victims of land acquisition, they said.
Bridges Division Joint Secretary (finance) Habibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune the allocation to be sought for the Padma bridge project might change.
“The amount will be finalised after revising the current fiscal year’s budget.”
