United News of Bangladesh

The interim government is slashing allocations for several major development projects in the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP), cutting over Tk 12,000 crore from eight of the top 10 priority projects due to slow progress and fiscal constraints. According to planning ministry sources, allocations for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project will remain unchanged, while funding for the Dhaka–Ashulia Elevated Expressway will be increased. They, however, said allocations for the remaining eight major projects are being reduced. The National Economic Council (NEC) is expected to approve the revised ADP at its meeting on Monday, to be chaired by Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus. Read more: Rangamati: IG goes where no govt has gone before, with water management initiative for Rangamati A senior official at the Planning Ministry said large projects often receive high allocations at the start of the fiscal year, but full utilisation becomes difficult due to low implementation progress. He added that weak revenue collection has also contributed to the need for budget cuts. Projects facing reduced allocations include MRT Line-6, MRT Line-1, MRT Line-5 (North), the four-lane highway from Hatikumrul in Sirajganj to Rangpur, the Dhaka–Sylhet four-lane highway, Matarbari Port Development, expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project from the airport to Gazipur. Read more: A costly bridge in Manikganj waiting for roads In the current ADP, Tk 8,631 crore was allocated for MRT Line-1. Under the revised ADP, the allocation is proposed to be reduced to Tk 801 crore, a cut of Tk 7,830 crore. The allocation for the extension of MRT Line-6 from Motijheel to Kamalapur is being reduced from Tk 1,347 crore to Tk 1,023 crore. Funding for MRT Line-5 (North) is proposed to be lowered from Tk 1,490 crore to Tk 592 crore.  The allocation for the Matarbari Port Development Project is proposed to be reduced from Tk 4,086 crore to Tk 1,085 crore. The Dhaka–Sylhet four-lane highway project will see a reduction of Tk 55 crore, with Tk 1,668 crore proposed in the revised ADP. The expansion project of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will have its allocation reduced by Tk 733 crore to Tk 306 crore. The BRT project from the airport to Gazipur will see its allocation reduced by Tk 256 crore to Tk 168 crore. The four-lane highway project from Hatikumrul to Rangpur will have Tk 310 crore cut, with Tk 1,562 crore proposed in the revised ADP. Speakers question government’s role amid rising violence and election security concerns The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project will retain its original allocation of Tk 10,011 crore. Meanwhile, the allocation for the Dhaka–Ashulia Elevated Expressway project is being increased by Tk 1,134 crore, bringing its total allocation to Tk 4,476 crore in the revised ADP. Overall, about Tk 30,000 crore is being cut from the current fiscal year’s ADP. Planning ministry officials said the revised ADP size may be set at Tk 2 lakh crore, down from the original Tk 2.30 lakh crore. Funding from domestic sources is proposed to be reduced from Tk 1.44 lakh crore to Tk 1.28 lakh crore, while project aid will be lowered from Tk 86,000 crore to Tk 72,000 crore. The current ADP includes 1,171 projects. Last year, the revised ADP was reduced by Tk 49,000 crore, bringing its size to Tk 2.16 lakh crore. Read more: DWASA moves to set up Tk 721cr training, research academy

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division has achieved 103.04 percent progress in implementation of its revised annual development programmes (RADP). Such information on the RADP achievement was shared by the officials at a reviewed meeting of the division "on the progress of projects of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division from July, 22 to June, 23" on Sunday. Appreciating the officials’ remarkable success, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said schemes should be taken up keeping in mind the future prosperous Bangladesh. Power Division implements 100% of RADP in 2022-23 "It's necessary to strengthen team initiative and implement projects quickly. Nobody should suffer from indecisiveness,” he said. He said the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has implemented 100 percent of ADP for the last two consecutive years and this should be continued. He directed the distribution companies under Energy and Mineral Resources Division to take initiative to increase the planned communication activities to build up trust-based relationship with their customers. It was informed in the meeting that that in the financial year 2022-2023, under the annual development program, a total of Tk 4053.20 crore was allocated against 44 projects, including 7 GOB and foreign aid projects, 25 own projects and 12 under the Gas Development Fund against which the expenditure was Tk 4176.55 crores. Financial progress rate is 103.04 percent while the progress in FY 2021-2022 was 103.52%. Ensure energy, power supply to keep industrial production running: FBCCI Chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) ABM Azad, Chairman of Petrobangla Janendra Nath Sarkar and officials of the other subordinate organizations were present in the meeting, presided over by Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Md Khairuzzaman Majumdar. Budget for FY2023-24: Tk 34,819 crore allocated for power and energy sector