The government will start 9 mega projects involving around Tk 1,50,550 crore, including the second Padma Bridge in the Annual Development Program (ADP) for the next fiscal year 2023-24.
The projects include Metrorail Line-2, Second Padma Bridge, Multi-modal hub construction at Kamalapur, Dhaka East-West Express, Chattogram to Cox's Bazar highway development and Bay Terminal construction, an official of planning commission said.
Among the mega projects, the Metrorail Line-2 project will be implemented at a cost of Tk 29,571 crore. Metrorail Line-2 is 24 km long. Gabtoli Embankment Road-Basila-Mohammadpur BRTC Bus Stand-Satmasjid Road Zigatola-
Dhanmondi No 2 Road-Science Laboratory-New market-Neelkhet-Azimpur-Palashi-Shaheed Minar-Dhaka Medical College-Police Headquarters-Golap Shah Mazar-Bangabhaban North Side Road-Motijheel- Metrorail Line-2 will run through Arambagh-Kamalapur-Mugda-Manda-Demra-Chattogram road.
The development of the highway from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar has been estimated at Tk 12,427 crore.
The proposed cost of Dhaka Elevated Expressway is Tk 10,565 crore and the cost of Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway is Tk 17,425 crore.
Bangabandhu Sheikh MujibShilpanagar water supply project in Chattogram will cost Tk 15,000 crore. Chattogram Port Authority will build a bay terminal at a cost of Tk 17,757 crore. Bangladesh Railway's Kamalapur multi-modal hub construction project cost is proposed to be Tk 22,057.50 crore. The consultant for this project is in the hiring stage.
However, the government has estimated an initial cost of Tk 12,750 crore for the second Padma Bridge from Paturia to Goalanda.
This project has been placed in the list of unsanctioned projects in the Annual Development Program (ADP) for the fiscal year 2023-24. Subject to availability of funds, the project will begin the approval process.
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority says that the residents of some districts in the central and northwestern parts of the country will need more time to cross the Padma River at the Mawa-Jazira position than at the Paturia-Goalanda position.
A second Padma Bridge at Paturia-Goalanda position is required to reduce the distance between Dhaka and eastern parts of the country along with Meherpur, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Magura, Rajbari, Faridpur and part of Narail, Gopalganj, Jessore and Madaripur districts.
Feasibility study of construction of second Padma Bridge has been completed. The survey was conducted on Daulatdia of Rajbari and Paturia route of Manikganj.
Chief engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority KaziMdFerdous said, “We have taken a plan to implement the second Padma Bridge. Seeking foreign loan through ERD to implement the project. If it is finalized, then the next step.”
According to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, the length of the proposed second Padma Bridge will be 5 and a half kilometers and the width will be 18.1 meters.
The connecting road will be 15 and a half kilometers at both ends. The work of river management will be 18.4 kilometers on both ends.
The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) have been identified as possible development partners for the implementation of the project.
Besides, a project proposal has been submitted to the Planning Commission so that the Economic Relations Department can act on donor commitments now.
