Nuclear power project clinches highest chunk, over Tk 100b outlay

Now nearing completing, the gargantuan Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project is set to receive Tk 100.12 billion, the highest single recipient, from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the upcoming fiscal year.

This power-generation project under the Ministry of Science and Technology has also received the highest allocation in the ADP for several consecutive years, said officials from the programming division of the Planning Commission.

They inform that the 10 largest projects under the development budget have been allocated a total of Tk 413.82 billion, accounting for 19.20 per cent of the overall Tk 2.16-trillion allocations for 1,173 projects under the ADP for 2025-26.

The National Economic Council (NEC) recently approved an ADP worth Tk 2.30 trillion. Of this, 93.70 per cent has been allocated for development projects, while the remainder earmarked as development assistance for various institutions and as block allocations.

An analysis of the ADP outlay shows that the top 10 allocated projects in the upcoming ADP had a combined allocation of Tk 264.58 billion in the Revised ADP (RADP) for the outgoing fiscal year.

In the next fiscal year, the allocation for these projects is set to increase by Tk 149.24 billion, or 56.41 per cent, compared to the current RADP.

Analyses show that four of the highest-funded power-sector projects are among the top-ten ADP recipients, three of them under transmission subsector. These projects received a combined allocation of Tk 182.48 billion.

Additionally, three projects from the road-development sector, one from health, and one from education made it to the list.

The analyses also reveal that eight out of the ten projects are supported by foreign aid, while the remaining two are fully funded from government exchequer.

The Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-1), which will establish the capital's maiden underground metro rail, will receive the second-highest allocation of Tk 86.31 billion.

Construction of the 31.24-kilometre metro-rail lines, including a 19.87-kilometre underground section from the airport to Kamalapur via Natun Bazar, and an 11.37-kilometre elevated section from Natun Bazar to Pitalganj under the Jica -supported project, is expected to commence in the next fiscal.

The Matarbari Port Development Project is set to receive Tk 40.68 billion in the next fiscal year, up from Tk 25.70 billion in the current Revised ADP (RADP)-an increase of Tk 14.98 billion or 58.27 per cent.

According to the ADP framework, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) will spend Tk 22.68 billion, while the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) will implement components worth Tk 18.00 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.

The project titled 'Expansion and Strengthening of Power System Network under DPDC Area' ranks fourth, with an allocation of Tk 40.64 billion for the next fiscal year, 33.89-percent higher than the current allocation of Tk 30.35 billion.

The project on construction of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway receives the fifth-highest allocation of Tk 33.42 billion for the next fiscal year, which is 8.76-percent lower than the current RADP allocation of Tk 36.63 billion.

'Establishment of 500-Bed Hospital and Ancillary Buildings in Jashore, Cox's Bazar, Pabna, and Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College and Janoneta Nurul Haque Modern Hospital, Noakhali' is the only health-sector project among the top-10 development -fund recipients for the next fiscal year.

The project has been allotted the sixth-highest allocation of Tk 30.56 billion-ten times higher than its current allocation.

Power Grid Network Strengthening Project under PGCB project receives Tk 23.30 billion in the next fiscal year, 32.38-percent higher than the current allocation.

The government is set to spend Tk 21.64 billion to operate feeding activities for primary school students across the country. The new project, titled 'Feeding Programme in Government Primary Schools,' is the only initiative among the top-ten recipients.

'SASEC Road connecting Project-II: Improvement of Elenga- Hatikamrul- Rangpur to a 4-lane Road' project has been allotted Tk 18.73 billion in the next fiscal year, slightly lower than current allocation.

'Boropukuria-Bagra- Kaliakaiur 400KV Transmission Line' project is getting Tk 18.42 billion, the 10th-highest among all.

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