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The government has approved a proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Tk 2,65,000 crore for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25, prioritizing mega projects.
The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, held on Thursday, approved this allocation for development activities in the next financial year. NEC Chairperson Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
Senior Secretary of the Planning Division, Satyajit Karmakar, briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said that the NEC has approved the ADP of Tk 2,65,000 crore for the financial year 2024-25. Out of this, an expenditure target of Tk 1,65,000 crore from government funds and Tk 1,00,000 crore from foreign loans has been set. Additionally, autonomous institutions have their own funding of Tk 13,286.19 crore, bringing the total size of the new ADP to Tk 2,78,286.19 crore.
The allocation in the ADP for the next fiscal year is only Tk 2,000 crore more than the allocation for the current fiscal year 2023-24. Those concerned stated that the allocation to the ADP has not been increased much this time, primarily due to the financial crisis.
The transport and communication sector has been given the highest priority in terms of allocation in the new ADP, with about 27 percent of the total ADP or Tk 71,000 crore allocated to this sector. The sector has several important ongoing projects, including the capital's new metro rail project and the Padma Rail Bridge. According to sources in the Ministry of Planning, the overall allocation for this sector has increased due to the allocation for these projects.
The power and energy sector has received the second-highest allocation in the new ADP, with about Tk 41,000 crore or more than 15 percent of the total allocation earmarked for this sector. The education sector has received the third-highest allocation, with about Tk 31,500 crore, which is approximately 12 percent of the total ADP, allocated for the next financial year.
According to the Ministry of Planning, 15 sectors are receiving more than 96 percent of the allocation in the ADP for the next financial year. Aside from Transportation and Communication, Power and Energy, Education, and Health, Tk 24,836 crore has been allocated for the housing sector, Tk 17,986 crore for the local government and rural development sector, Tk 11,089 crore for the environment, climate change, and water resources sector, and Tk 13,219 crore for the agriculture sector.
It is reported that 1,321 projects have been included in the new ADP, with Tk 51,970 crore allocated for the 10 highest-allocated projects. These include the Fourth Primary Education Development Programme Project, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Matarbari Coal-Based Power Plant, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Metrorail Line-1 Project, Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, and Padma Rail and Airport Third Terminal Project.
Among these projects, the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-4) project is receiving the highest allocation. Tk 11,056 crore has been allocated for this project of the Directorate of Primary Education in the next financial year. This cluster Programme started for the fourth time in 2018, and this allocation has been given in the next ADP to complete the project by June next year.
The Rooppur nuclear power plant construction project is receiving the second-highest allocation, with Tk 10,502 crores allocated for this project. A total of Tk 1,13,092.91 crore is being spent on the implementation of this project, out of which Tk 71,089.40 crore has been spent so far.
The Matarbari coal-based power plant is receiving the third-highest allocation, with Tk 6,005 crores allocated for this project. Following that, the allocation for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project has been estimated at Tk 3,796 crore. Tk 3,594 crore has been allocated for the 'Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project: Metro Rail Line-1' project.
Additionally, Tk 3,555 crore has been allocated for the Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, Tk 3,544 crore for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, Tk 3,535 crore for the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion (Phase I) Project, Tk 3,384 crore for the project titled Power System Network Under DPDC Area, and Tk 3,000 crore for the upgradation of five hospitals to 500 beds.
Meanwhile, according to the proposed ADP, among the 58 ministries and departments, 10 ministries and departments are receiving the maximum allocation. Of these, the highest allocation of Tk 18,667 crore has been earmarked for the power division. The local government department has received the second-highest allocation of Tk 13,084 crore, while Tk 10,000 crores have been allocated for the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Furthermore, Tk 9,371 crore has been allocated for the Ministry of Railways, Tk 9,227 crore for the Road Transport and Highways Department, Tk 4,903 crore for the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Tk 4,588 crore for the Ministry of Shipping, Tk 4,425 crore for the Health Care Division, Tk 2,927 crore for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Tk 2,500 crore for the Bridge Division.
Messenger/Fameema
