Capital to get 3 new bridges

Construction of the Mukhtarpur bridge on Dhaka-Munshiganj road, a second Shitalakhya bridge and a third Buriganga bridge comes in addition to a bridge over the Padma river, M Saifur Rahman told the House.

A third Karnaphuli bridge will be constructed for quick communication between Chittagong and the southern part of Bangladesh.

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The minister proposed a combined allocation of Tk 3,189 crore under both revenue and development budget for the fiscal 2003-04 for improvement of road transport. The government has taken up an initiative to create a 'road fund' to ensure all-time maintenance of roads and highways and bridges and culverts.

Measures are being taken to revamp the railways through purchase of new coaches, rebuilding of rail tracks and repairs of rail stations, he said. The government plans to develop the Bangladesh Railway as a corporate body to bring dynamism, he added.

The Rajshahi-Dhaka and Khulna-Dhaka train service over the Jamuna bridge will begin this month to add substance to the dreams of people of northern and southwestern regions, said Saifur.

He proposed a combined allocation of Tk 1,370 crore for railways under both revenue and development budget.