1.

Introduction

The transport and communication system is a vital physical infrastructure which acts as a
prerequisite of the socio economic development of the country. The share of contribution
of the “Transport, Storage and Communication” sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
is 11.12 (provisional) percent and the rate of growth is 6.33 (provisional) percent during
FY 2017-18 according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. The share of road transport in
carriage of freight and passenger traffic by mechanized surface transport is highest
compared to other modes like railway and waterway. The high importance of connectivity
with the regional and international road network is unanimously admitted in the context of
globalization and modern market economy. The Road Transport and Highway Division
have been working relentlessly in implementing the Seventh Five Year Plan, Vision 2021,
Perspective Plan as well as considering the target set for the Sustainable Development
Goal 2030 with a view to develop a sustainable, safe & quality road infrastructure and
integrated modern mass transport system for achieving desired socio-economic
development in the country .

2. RHD Road Development Program FY 2017-18

A total number of 140 development projects including 3 Technical Assistance projects have been
included in the Annual Development Program (ADP) of Roads and Highways Department for FY
2017-18. An amount of Taka 14144.68 crore is allocated for a total of 140 development projects.
Of this, GoB component is Taka 10722.20 crore and project aid is Taka 3422.48 crore. An amount
of Taka 14128.74 crore is spent during FY2017-18 against the total allocation. The overall
financial progress achieved during the financial year 2017-18 is 99.94% of the total allocation.
During the previous financial year 2016-17 financial progress achieved was 99.83% of the
allocation. The financial progress in utilization of fund during FY2017-18 in carrying out
implementation works of RHD projects is briefly described below.

 Foreign Aided Projects: A total number of 16 foreign aided projects including 9 new projects
have been included in the ADP of RHD for FY 2017-18. A total amount of Taka 4688.28 crore
comprising a project aid of Taka 3422.48 crore and Taka 1265.80 crore is GoB share is
allocated in order to carry out implementation works on these aided projects. An amount of
Taka 4673.39 crore was spent during FY2017-18, showing 99.68% percent financial
achievement in this respect.

 GoB Funded Projects: A total number of 124 non-aided projects including 110 new projects
were included in the ADP of RHD for FY2017-18. These projects are being implemented with
domestic resources. A sum of Taka 9456.40 crore is allocated to carry on the implementation

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 works of these projects during FY 2017-18. A total amount of Taka 9455.35 crore was spent
for these domestically funded projects. The financial progress achieved in this regard is
99.99% percent during FY2017-18.

3. Road Maintenance Program FY 2017-18

An amount of Taka 2334.38 crore is allocated for Maintenance of Road & Bridge under Roads
and Highways Department during the last financial year 2017-18. Out of the total, Taka 601.62
crore was spent for periodic maintenance (road & bridge), Taka 1300.00 crore for periodic
maintenance program (PMP road), Taka 160.00 crore for PMP (bridge), Taka 10.00 crore for
Emergency Repair & Maintenance, Taka 120.00 crore for Routine Maintenance, Taka 0.48 crore
for arrears of outstanding bills for the project "Emergency Rehabilitation for Damaged Roads",
Taka 10 crore for the payment of arrears according to the Supreme Court order and Taka 132.28
Crore for the payment of arrears of FY2011-12 and 2013-14.

A total amount of Taka 2330.61 crore is spent during FY2017-18 showing 99.84% financial
progress overall achieved in this regard.

4. Physical Progress during FY 2017-18 under Development and Revenue

Program

During FY 2017-18, 4 laning of National Highways 43.64 kilometer, construction of

flexible pavement (without surfacing) 277.52 kilometer, rigid pavement 29.65 kilometer,
surfacing of road 466.67 kilometer, widening of road 579.45 kilometer, strengthening
400.42 kilometer, construction of concrete bridge 2971.75 meter (42 numbers) and RCC
culvert 1097.16 meter (252 numbers) was done under the development program of RHD.

During FY 2017-18 overlay 1232.17 kilometer, DBST 79.25 kilometer, rigid pavement
8.79 kilometer, reconstruction of bridge 2348.01 meter (30 numbers) and culvert 3109
meter (179 numbers) was done under the revenue program of RHD.

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 5. Summary of Financial and Physical Progress of Ongoing Important ADP Projects under RHD during
FY 2017-18
(Amount in Crore Taka)

Cumulative
Expenditure Cumulative
Name of Project Allocation Expenditure physical Source
Sl. Estimated in expenditure
(Implementation period) in FY % of progress of
No Cost FY 2017-18 upto June
2017-18 Allocation upto June finance
2018
2018
1. Improvement of Jatrabari Intersection (Including 6852.29 3224.71 3224.71 100% 6274.07 91.56% GOB
Equria to Babubazar Link Road) to Mawa of Dhaka-
Khulna (N8) Highway and Pantchchar-Bhanga Road
Section (including separate lane for slow moving
vehicle) to 4 Lane (March/16 to June/20)
2. SASEC Road Connectivity Project-II: Improvement 11899.01 145.58 145.48 99.93% 145.92 1.23% ADB
of Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur Road to 4 Lane
Highway (Sep/16 to Aug/2021)
3. Development project of Faridpur (Maijkandi)- 261.70 85.00 85.00 100% 95.00 36.30% GoB
Boalmari-Gopalganj (Bhatiapara) Road including
Sosrail-Alfadanga-Kashiyani Road (Apr/16 to
Dec/18)
4. Construction of Payra Bride (Lebukhali Bridge) over 1278.82 154.77 154.13 99.58% 354.52 27.72% Kuwait
the river Payra on Barisal-Patuakhali Highway Fund
(April/12 to April/21)
5. Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project 2039.85 187.82 178.51 95.04% 441.25 21.63% ADB
(BRT Gajipur-Airport)(Dec/12 to Dec/18)
6. Construction of 2nd Katchpur, Meghna, Gumti Bridge 8486.94 2237.75 2237.75 100% 3901.68 45.97% JBIC
and Rehabilitation of Existing bridge (April/13 to
October/21)
7. SASEC Road Connection Project Improvement of 5593.16 870.00 869.78 99.97% 2415.18 43.18% ADB
Jaydebpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga Road to 4 lane
Highway (April/13 to June/20).
8. Western Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project 2911.75 448.37 448.35 100% 520.09 17.86% JBIC
(Dec/15 to June/20)

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 Cumulative
Expenditure Cumulative
Name of Project Allocation Expenditure physical Source
Estimated in expenditure
(Implementation period) in FY % of progress of
Sl. Cost FY 2017-18 upto June
2017-18 Allocation upto June finance
No 2018
2018
9. Construction of Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal- 659.98 11.85 11.84 99.95% 27.03 4.09% JBIC
Fired Power Project (RHD part) (Jan/15 to June/20)
10. Cross-Border Road Network Improvement Project 2486.12 227.20 225.99 99.47% 290.91 11.70% JBIC
(Bangladesh) (Apr/16 to June/22)
11. Construction of Itna- Mithamoin-Ostogram Road 874.08 162.95 162.95 100% 397.13 45.43% GoB
Project (January/15 to June/20)
12. Construction of 3rd Shitalakhya Bridge at Bandar 599.28 34.90 32.72 93.75% 210.02 35.04% Saudi
Upazilla of Narayangonj (Nov/10 to June/21) Arab
13 4-laning of Ashuganj River Port-Sarail-Darkhar- 3567.85 150.00 150.00 100% 150.00 4.20% Indian
Akhaura Land Port National Highway (Apr/17 to LOC
June/20)
14 Procurement of Equipment and Machinery for 585.88 6.28 6.27 9.84% 6.27 1.07% ADB
construction, repair and maintenance of Road
Infrastructure (Jan/17 to Dec/18)

 Source: Monthly Progress Report, June/2018, Monitoring Circle, RHD.

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6. Summary Statistics of RHD Development Activities during Last 10 Financial Years

Financial Year ADP /RADP Allocation Annual Expenditure Number of Projects Number of Completed
(Taka in Crore) (Taka in Crore) under Implementation Projects
2008-2009 1399.28 1213.13 115 22
2009-2010 2308.21 1966.57 119 20
2010-2011 2063.61 1842.59 152 13
2011-2012 2440.51 2317.14 168 16
2012-2013 3382.87 3370.03 152 26
2013-2014 3465.04 3454.06 145 25
2014-2015 3988.51 3973.91 126 45
2015-2016 5990.32 5981.80 132 31
2016-2017 8199.28 8184.95 134 49
2017-2018 14144.68 14128.74 140 21
 RADP=Revised Annual Development Program

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7. RHD Allocation and Expenditure during FY 2008-09 to FY 2017-18
(Amount in Crore Taka)
Allocation Expenditure Annual
Financial Development Maintenance Total Development Maintenance Total expenditure in
Year overall percent
2008-09 1399.28 717.51 2116.79 1213.13 530.10 1743.23 82.35%
(PA 543.65) (PA543.65) (PA 409.52) (PA 409.52)
2009-10 2308.21 610.00 2918.21 1966.57 606.52 2573.09 88.17%
(PA 597.87) (PA597.87) (PA 430.75) (PA 430.75)
2010-11 2063.61 667.80 2731.41 1842.59 658.97 2501.56 91.58%
(PA 492.36) (PA 492.36) (PA 303.72) (PA 303.72)
2011-12 2440.51 704.90 3145.41 2317.14 701.78 3018.92 95.98%
(PA 359.79) (PA 359.79) (PA 248.60) (PA 303.72)
2012-13 3382.87 1135.61 4518.48 3370.03 1135.61 4505.64 99.72%
(PA 363.86) (PA 363.86) (PA 353.72) (PA 353.72)
2013-14 3465.04 1239.64 4704.68 3454.06 1237.68 4691.74 99.72%
(PA 473.66) (PA 473.66) (PA 465.16) (PA 465.16)
2014-15 3988.51 1444.14 5432.65 3973.91 1431.45 5405.37 99.49%
(PA 210.91) (PA 210.91) (PA 206.90) (PA 206.90)
2015-16 5990.32 1468.45 7458.77 5981.80 1466.99 7448.79 99.87%
(997.98) (997.98) (997.16) (997.16)
2016-17 8199.28 1490.00 9689.28 8184.95 1485.80 9670.75 99.81%
(PA 1508.75) (PA 1508.75) (PA 1503.89) (PA 1503.89)
2017-18 14144.68 2334.38 16479.06 14128.74 2330.61 16459.35 99.88%
(PA 3422.48) (PA 3422.48) (PA 3413.35) (PA 2330.61)
 PA=Project Aid

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8. Road Network under the Management of RHD

The total length of road is 21302.08 km, of which 18202.06 km is paved, under the management
of Roads and Highways Department at present. Of the total road network under the Department,
3812.78 km is National Highway (17.90%), 4246.97 km Regional Highway (19.94%) and
remaining 13242.33 km is Zilla Roads (62.16%). Besides, RHD has 4404 number of bridges and
14814 numbers of culverts under its control. Moreover, RHD has currently been operating about
96 ferry boats in 41 ferry ghats on its road network throughout the country. It may be mentioned
that the length of road network under RHD has not increased during last couple of years. But the
quality of different important road segments has been significantly improved through carrying
out development/improvement works of various standards as per requirement. A ten year time
series data on RHD road lengths since 2009 is presented in the following table.

Road Length under RHD

(Length in kilometer)
Year National Regional Zilla Road Total
Highway Highway
2009 3477 4165 13248 20890
2010 3478 4222 13248 20948
2011 3492 4268 13280 21040
2012 3538 4276 13458 21272
2013 3570 4323 13678 21571
2014 3544 4278 13659 21481
2015 3813 4247 13242 21302
2016 3813 4247 13242 21302
2017 3813 4247 13242 21302
2018 3813 4247 13242 21302

Source: a) Data from the year 2009 to 2015 have been taken from RHD database report
b) Data from the year 2016 to 2018 have been taken from 'Bangladesh Gazette' additional issue,
dated February 18, 2015.
.

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9. Ferry Service under RHD

RHD is currently operating about 96 ferry boats and 129 Pontoon of 41 ferry ghats on its road
network throughout the country. In order to serve better ferry service “Construction /
Rehabilitation of Ferry and Pontoon” (Second Phase) project at a cost of Taka 439 crore 49 lakh
has recently been undertaken by RHD. Under this project tendering process for 53 numbers of
ferry, 62 numbers of pontoon and 50 numbers of gangway construction and repairing of 4
numbers of ferry and 5 numbers of pontoon including procurement of 57 set propulsion units of
different power are in progress.

10. Private Investment in Road Sector

There are 6 projects under the Roads and Highways Department which will be implemented on
PPP basis through participation of the public sector as well as private sector for the development
of road network. Among these six projects, implementation of three important projects is
ongoing.

• Joydebpur-Debgram-Bhulta-Madanpur (Bypass Bypass) Highway (N-105)

The project "Upgrading of Joydevpur-Debgram-Bhulta-Madanpur road (Dhaka-Bypass road) to

4 lanes" has connected the National Highway N4 with the National Highway (Dhaka-Tangail
Highway) N1. Apart from this, Dhaka-Chittagong highway is connected with the National
Highway N3 (Dhaka-Mymensingh) highway at Bhogra and also with the National highway N2
(Dhaka-Sylhet) Highway at Bhulta. The 48-kilometer long Dhaka-Bypass road connects
Chittagong port with the north and north-west of Bangladesh. The Dhaka-Bypass road is a part
of the South Asia Sub regional Economic Co-operation Corridor (SASEC), which will connect
Nepal and Bhutan to the Chittagong port of Bangladesh. The road is also a part of the Asian
Highway-41 networks.
In order to implement the project it is expected that the PPP agreement with Preferred Bidders
can be executed by October 2018 and it will be possible to start road construction by March
2019. To this end, the project "Support to Joydebpur-Debogram-Bhulta-Madanpur road (Dhaka-
Bypass) PPP project" has been being implemented by RHD at a cost of Tk. 236.50 crore.

• Construction of Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway

Under the Technical Assistance for Detailed Study and Design of Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway
on PPP BASIS project, detailed designs including the Feasibility study of Dhaka-Chittagong

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Expressway have been prepared with the help of Asian Development Bank. The proposed 217.5
kilometer Dhaka-Chittagong expressway is parallel with existing Dhaka-Chittagong National
Highway. The expressway has provision of 4-lane resources at the initial stage including 2
emergency lanes. Besides, there are resources to build service lanes along side of Expressway to
facilitate local transport. For ensuring ceaseless movement of vehicles there will be limited
number of (seven numbers) interchanges for entry and exit. It is estimated by RHD that the
implementing period of this project from 2018 to 2022.

At present, the implementation of the Viability Gap Financing proposal under Roads and
Highways Department is under process of approval by the Ministry of Finance. The Request for
Qualification will be issued for the investor selection after the approval of Viability Gap
Financing proposal. Besides, a support project is in progress to meet the current project's cost of
land acquisition, rehabilitation and other government expenditure.

• Hatirjheel-Rampura-Banasree Ideal School and College-Sheikher Jayga-Amulia-

Demra Highway (including Chittagong road Mour and Tarabo link highway)

The project “Improvement of Hatirjheel-Rampura-Banasree Ideal School and College-Sheikher

Jayga- Amulia-Demra Highway (Chittagong Road Mour and Tarabo Link Highway) to 4-lane
Highway with service lane on both sides on PPP basis” was approved by CCEA on January 27,
2016.

This 13 km long highway will make the trasportation easier from Rampura, Gulshan, Badda area
of Dhaka to Dhaka-Chittagong highway and Dhaka-Sylhet Highway and uninterrupted
communication between Narayanganj and Dhaka will be established. Asia Development Bank
(ADB) is working as a Transaction Adviser for this project. The Feasibility study has been
already approved by the Roads and Highways Department. The Request for Qualification has
been issued for investor selection for the project on 19 February 2018. The project investors are
expected to be selected by April 2019.

•Improvement of Gabtoli-Nabinagar Highway on PPP basis with provision of 2-lane

service lane on both sides (22 km)

The ministerial committee of Economy Affairs had given their policy approval on this project on
11 July 2018. A transaction advisor will be appointed to execute the feasibility study for
implementing the project by public private partnership.

Apart from these projects few other projects have been selected by Roads and Highways
Department to be implemented under Public Private Partnership basis are listed below. Further

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initiatives will be taken on these projects after getting the policy approval from the Ministerial
committee of economic affairs.
 Improvement of Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway to Expressway on PPP basis with
provision of service lane on both sides.
 Improvement of Nabinagar-Manikganj Highway on PPP basis.
 Improvement of Hatikamrul-Natore-Rajshahi Highway on PPP basis.
 Construction of service area on Dhaka-Tangail Highway on PPP basis.
 Construction of Dhaka Circular Route with provision of service lanes: 2 nd phase Improve
to 4 Lane Highway (Abdullahpur-Dhour-Birulia-Gabtoli-Babubazar-Fatullah-Chashara-
Signboard, 67 kilometer)
 Construction of 136 kilometer Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Access Controlled Highway on
PPP basis.

11. Implementation of New Policies in Road Sector

The draft of "Road Transport Act, 2017" has been approved on 27th March, 2017 by the Cabinet
in order to replace the "Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983" with a modern and up-to-date one. It has
been sent to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department for final vetting on 7th May
2017. The formulation of the “Ferry Management Policy 2017” is also underway to manage the
ferry and pontoon more effectively. Meanwhile, the "Road Fund Board Act, 2013" has been
approved by the GoB to ensure proper and continuous supply of fund for road repairing and
maintenance. The "Bus Rapid Transit Law 2016" is noteworthy among other laws.

12. Road Safety

A flawless road design is being implemented through identifying the accident black spots on the
National Highways. The intensity of road accident has been reduced due to proper maintenance
of road and straightening of road alignment. The “Improvement of Black Spots in National
Highways” for the treatment of 121 black spots at an estimated cost of Taka 168.05 crore has
been completed during FY 2016-17. Besides, a vast program for safety on road through overload
control by means of installing weigh-bridge at each important traffic origination point, signing
and signaling of roads etc is under implementation since long time.
In addition, a feasibility report was given by the Accident Research Institute (ARI) based on a
recent visit by ARI which has been identified by the Highway Police to reduce the accidents to
the minimum level. In order to set up sign and marking with 128 new spots, the approval process
for the project "Establishment of sign and road marking on national and regional highways and
development of dangerous risk corridor in the identified risk areas" is in progress.

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At present, a study project is going on in 752 intersection point for proper design at a cost of
Taka 3.24 Crore. Initiatives will be taken to adopt an investment project for the development of
intersection points according to the project design.

13. e-GP
Government of Bangladesh has set up the e-GP portal to carry out the online tender activities
according to the article no 65 of The Public Procurement Act, 2006 and article no 128 of The
Public Procurement Rules, 2008. Roads and Highways Department is one of the pilot agencies
selected by GoB for this purpose. All tenders are being done through e-tendering under RHD. It
saves time for processing the tender and ensures transparency. A total of 4432 numbers of RHD
tenders are called and 3560 numbers of tenders have been awarded under e-GP system during
FY 2017-18. Overall 16208 numbers of tenders have been called from FY 2012-13 to FY 2017-
18 among which 12102 numbers of tenders have been awarded.

14. Toll Collection under RHD

An amount of Taka 705.37 crore is collected for road, bridge and ferry use during FY 2017-18
under RHD of which Taka 672.67 crore for bridge use, Taka 21.96 crore for road use and Taka
11.74 crore for ferry use. The amount of total toll collection under RHD during last 5 years is
presented in following table.
Amount of Toll Collection under RHD
Toll Collection
Financial Year
(Amount in Crore Taka)
2013-14 360.77

2014-15 369.08

2015-16 549.66
2016-17 631.05
2017-18 706.37

15. Completed projects under RHD FY 2017-18

Total 21 numbers of projects have been completed under RHD in FY 2017-18. The list of
completed projects is given below:
1. Construction of 4-Laning to Madaripur(Mostafapur)-Shariatpur Road Via Kazirtack Bridge
2. Construction of Khulna (Gollamari)-Batiaghata Dacope- Nalian Forest Road
3. Construction of Shasongacha Railway Overpass in Comilla City.
4. Construction of Mohipal Flyover Project, Feni

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5. Gazipur-Azmatpur-Itakhola Road Charshindur Shitallakha River project
6. Construction of Railway Overpass on Mourail Rail Crossing in Brahmanbaria Town
7. Construction of Paira Bridge (Lebukhali Bridge) over the river Paira on Barisal-Patuakhali
Road.
8. Development of Dinajpur-Birol-Pakura-Radhikapur(Birol Land Port
9. Construction of Sarnamoti Bridge at 20th km of National Highway Barabari-Lalmonirhat-
Burimary
10. Widening and Strengthening of Bangaon-Nunni-Hatipagar
11. Construction of Coxbazar-Teknaf Merin Drive Road Project-3th (ShilKhali to Teknaf)
12. Khulna (Rupsha)-Srifaltala-Terokhada Road
13. Improvement of Chittagong(Nazirhat)-Maizbhander Road
14. Construction of Ruma-Bogalek-keokradang road
15. Construction of Shibalay-Nayarkandi-Balla-Harirampur road Project
16.Widening of Dinajpur-Chirirbondor-Parbatipur Road
17.Improvement of Chandpur-Nanupur-Chandra-Kamtabazar-Ramganj Road (Z-1412)
remaining part (Chandpur Part)
18. Development Project for Construction of 44.02m long Sachar bridge & 4 R.C.C Culverts
with curve straightening at Gouripur-Kachua-Hajiganj Road
19. Construction of Jhenaidah-Harinakundu Road and Circuit House Link Road
20.Re-Construction of Mahalchari-Sindukchari-Jaliapara Road 1st Phase (Jaliapara-
Sindukchari) Road Project
21. Construction of Bangladesh-Mayanmar Maitri Sarak (Balukhali-Gunduni Border Road.

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