Japan offers $3.3b for seven key projects
Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will provide Bangladesh with $3.3 billion (¥338.25 billion or Tk 26,850 crore) in official development assist with help implement seven important projects, including Jamuna railway bridge construction and expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
An agreement was signed between your Economic Relations Division and Jica at the National Economic Council conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in metropolis yesterday.
JAMUNA RAILWAY BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT (II)
Bangladesh Railway will implement the project worth $833.7 million with a target to complete it by March 2024.
The aim of the project is to increase the capacity and safety of transportation by constructing a dedicated railway bridge over the river Jamuna in parallel with the existing Bangabandhu bridge (Jamuna multipurpose bridge).
The project will donate to a competent logistic and passenger network within the united states and with neighbours, according to a statement from Jica.
The existing Bangabandhu multipurpose bridge, which Japan had co-financed with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in the late 1990s, has some restrictions regarding dumbbells, size and speed of train movements.
Although the railway route has great potential, specifically for freight transport with the neighbouring countries, it's been limited as a result of such restrictions.
"Therefore, the construction of a dedicated railway bridge is indispensable to meet the increasing and sub-regional traffic demand."
Jamuna railway bridge (4.8 kilometres) will be an essential area of the international and regional transport network such as trans-Asian railway network, Saarc corridor and BIMSTEC railway network.
This is among the five projects included in the "Japan-Bangladesh Comprehensive Partnership" joint statement and was particularly requested by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Japan in-may 2014.
HAZRAT SHAHJALAL INT'L AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT (II)
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh is implementing the project of $749.3 million, which is likely to be complete by April 2024.
The project will meet future demand for air transportation and improve airport capacity, convenience and safety by constructing a third terminal, an international passenger terminal, cargo terminals and other infrastructure and facilities at the airport in Dhaka.
The airport has witnessed an instant upsurge in demand in both passenger and cargo. The quantity of passengers using this airport increases on the average 8 per cent every year, while import and export rise 12 per cent, according to the statement.
After completion of the project, the quantity of international passengers is likely to increase to 12 million annually and the volume of international cargo will reach 510,000 tonnes.
"The airport will be transformed into a major international hub in Asia with higher security and better services."
DHAKA MASS RAPID TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IV
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited will implement the project worth $676.1 million, which is scheduled to be completed by December 2022.
The project will alleviate traffic congestion and mitigate polluting of the environment in Dhaka city by constructing a mass rapid transit system, adding to regional monetary development and enhancing the urban environment.
Dhaka suffers from too little good transport network leading to many problems to the city-dwellers due primarily to its high population density.
The situation has worsened in recent years because of a rise in vehicles and motorbikes without inadequate infrastructure development. Time loss on the way due to traffic jam is enormous not to mention a huge bottleneck for socio-economic development, the Jica statement says.
Annual economic loss for traffic jam is reported to be as large as Tk 20,000 crore, equivalent to 1.5 % of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
The MRT line 6 is definitely the country's first-ever metro rail system. Once constructed, the MRT line 6 can help carry five lakh passengers each day and shorten the common travel time from Uttara to Motijheel from 110 minutes to 36 minutes.
Around 9km of the 20km-long viaduct is currently noticeable as the construction of the project has witnessed significant progress.
DHAKA MASS RAPID TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (LINE 5 NORTHERN ROUTE) I
This project too will be implemented by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited at a cost of $521.6 million and will be completed by November 2029.
The project will also lessen traffic congestion in Dhaka city and the adjoining areas by constructing a mass rapid transit system, thereby adding to the monetary growth and enhancing the urban environment in Bangladesh.
A 20km-long MRT line 5 is a significant part of the mass transportation network of Dhaka that will connect important urban centres such as Gabtoli bus terminal, Mirpur, Banani, Gulshan and Baridhara.
The MRT line 5 will establish east-west connectivity of Dhaka city and hook up line 1 and line 6 running right through the north-south corridor. Following the construction of the MRT line 5, a MRT network will be established in Dhaka city.
CHATTOGRAM-COX'S BAZAR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The Roads and Highways Department will complete the project worth $18 million within September 2023. The project aims to accomplish smooth cargo transportation between Matarbari port and Chattogram by increasing roads at congested town areas along National Highway 1 (NH1).
The NH 1 (Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar) is the main highway in Bangladesh, but traffic congestion around areas along NH1, especially in Chattogram and Chakaria, has been aggravated due to a rise in traffic demand and insufficient road capacity.
The Jica-financed Matarbari port is scheduled to start out operation in 2024. After the commencement of the Matarbari port's operation, the traffic demand of N1 increase and traffic congestion is likely to rise further.
"Therefore, it really is urgently needed to increase the congested areas between Chattogram and Matarbari port along the NH1," the statement says.
The project will give attention to the improvement of five major bottlenecks between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar to secure a proper transportation route good construction schedule of Matarbari port.
The sections to be improved are planned to hook up the proposed Chattogram-Cox's Bazar expressway to be developed under a public-private partnership. This first loan covers engineering services.
FOOD VALUE CHAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund will implement the project worth $105.1 million within September 2026.
The project will improve credit access for agribusinesses and food processing industries, and improve their convenience of business development, food processing and food safety by providing concessional financing and technical assistance.
The marketplace size for processed food will be growing at about 7.2 per cent annually for the next five years, in line with the statement. However, in Bangladesh, still, you will find a insufficient value addition in agricultural products with appropriate post-harvest technologies and also food safety assurance.
"The project will address these issues which are hampering the development of agribusiness and food processing industries and in addition create occupations in both rural and cities."
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CITY GOVERNANCE PROJECT
The Local Government Engineering Department will implement the project by June 2026 to build up urban functioning by bettering urban infrastructure and strengthening city governance linked to infrastructure development in the prospective cities.
The $264.25-million project would donate to monetary growth, improvement of living conditions and sustainable cities, the statement says.
Though urbanisation may be the key contributor to the strong growth of industries and social development, rapid urbanisation will cause an acute shortage in urban infrastructure and services leading to adverse environmental and social impacts.
In this context, the local government institutions will need to improve their capacities to supply public services to urban citizens by strengthening their manpower and financial foundation.
Participatory planning process and coordination among stakeholders are also the key to creating a sustainable city. "This project will thus address the urban infrastructure development in parallel with governance improvement of the urban local bodies."
