The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project is a dream and it is the name of infinite possibilities. It is a symbol of a country's dignity and pride, a new step in the economy. The Padma Bridge is a long-standing dream of the people, especially in the south-west of the country.
Soon the dreams of the people of the south-west of the country will be fulfilled. The construction work of Padma bridge has not stopped even in the ongoing coronavirus situation. With the installation of the 31st span on the 25th and 26th pillars of the bridge, 4,650 meters have become visible.
Although the span has gone up, the recent proposed budget for 2020-21 fiscal year shows that the mega projects under Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Railways are facing budget cuts.
Mega projects are key to the economic uplift
of the country and already a number of them
are facing failure to maintain the deadline
Already it was being predicted that the government is likely to go for a ‘recovery plan’ in the next budget of fiscal 2020-21 which will put emphasis on health, agriculture and mega projects.
Prior to the proposal of the budget, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned that if necessary, the funds will be transferred from the ongoing various mega development projects to further the more critical sectors in this time of crisis. And as of the budget proposal it seems that it is what the Finance Ministry has planned.
The Health Services Division and the Health Education and Family Welfare Division in the budget proposed for the fiscal year 2020-21, has gone up by 13.7 per cent from the outgoing fiscal’s Tk 25,732 crore. The government proposes an allocation of Tk 4,370 crore for the metro rail project, while the project saw an allocation of Tk 7,212 crore in the outgoing fiscal year. This is a reduction in allocation by Tk 2,842 crore. Meanwhile, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, is to get Tk 5,000 crore allocation meaning a reduction of Tk370 crore.
These mega projects are key to the economic uplift of the country and already a number of them are facing failure to maintain the deadline. With such budget cuts it is understandable that the government is focusing on the more immediate problems but it also means a blow to the country’s dream of economic uplift.
