The big-budget transport sector seeks higher funds in the upcoming revised development budget for the current fiscal year, officials say, as reappraisals of the outlays are underway.
They said Friday the sector had sought Tk 379.71 billion worth of total allocation in the revised Annual Development Programme (RADP), Tk5.02 billion higher than the original allocation in the current ADP.
"We have already got the revised fund requirements from the ministries, divisions and agencies under the transport and communications sector," says a senior Planning Commission (PC) official.
"Now we are scrutinising the fund requirement before finalising for the revised development budget," he adds.
Transport and communications sector is the third-highest recipient of development funds in the current FY2022 development budget as the government laid top-most priority on the upgrading of the country's road communications.
Local Government Davison is the highest development-budget holder followed by Power Division.
The government is investing billions of funds every year to implement various projects, including some megaprojects like Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli tunnel, metro-rail, Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway, Joydevpur-Tangail-Hatikamrul-Rangpur 4-lane highways.
According to the proposals, Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has sought Tk260.16 billion from both local resources and from project aid.
The fresh demand is Tk 645.4 million higher than the current allocation of Tk195.62 billion in the ADP.
However, Bridges Division has sought a lower fund of Tk 57.23 billion in the upcoming RADP from the original Tk 97.97 billion outlay.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) also requires a lower outlay of Tk 61.04 billion from the current allocation of Tk 79.74 billion.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) seeks Tk 43.2-million allocation in the revised development budget from the original allocation of Tk 157.3 million.
The state-owned transport-service-provider Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has sought Tk 218.6 million higher funds in the forthcoming RADP to add up to the current allocation of Tk 175.5 million.
When asked, a senior PC official said they were scrutinising the fund allocations for finalising the RADP within next month.
"Revised fund demands of all the ministries and divisions are also being scrutinized by other wings of the PC. When all scrutiny works will be completed, the RADP will be finalised," he says.
"We will recommend the revised allocations to the Planning Minister-headed 'Extended Committee of the PC' for finalising the RADP for the current FY2022," he adds.
The extended committee will place it before the National Economic Council, hopefully by the end February, for the final shape of the RADP.
