Tk 38,496 Crore Allocated for Road Transport and Highways in FY2025–26 Budget
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today proposed allocating Tk. 38,496 crore for the road transport and highways division in the financial year 2025-2026 (FY26), which is over Tk. 353 more than the allocation in FY25. The finance adviser said this while presenting the proposed national budget in a pre-recorded broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. "The government has taken steps to amend and update several laws, rules and policies to make the road transport system more sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly," he said in the budget speech.
Ahmed said the government has taken initiatives to update the existing 'Road Master Plan 2009' as a part of its commitment to building a sustainable, safe, cost-effective and environment-friendly road network. Besides, preparation of the draft 'Highway Master Plan 2040' with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank was in its final stage, he said, adding: "To restructure the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, an initiative was taken to amend the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Act2012 and enact a new ordinance on the Bangladesh Urban Transport Authority."
As part of the government's effort, BRTA issued Motor Vehicle Speed Limit Guidelines, 2024, which is monitoring implementation of the guidelines, while initiatives were taken to amend the Road Transport Act, 2018 and Road Transport Rules, 2022, the adviser said. He added that a policy is being formulated to ensure discipline and safety in the management of electric three-wheelers. In addition, efforts were underway to introduce 400 electric buses in the transport system of Dhaka.
The finance adviser pointed out that the interim government carried out repair works quickly and cost-effectively using its own manpower at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro rail stations, which were damaged during the July Mass Uprising. In addition, the project cost of the 'Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route' could be reduced approximately by Tk. 7,000 crore after reviewing the DPP of the project. Currently, the construction work of Dhaka MRT Line-1 and Line-5 (Northern Route) is underway, he said.
