Padma Rail Link Project Budget Cut to Tk 37,401 Crore

Chattogram Port handled 830,582 containers from August to October, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous period. The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) aims to exceed 3.2 million TEUs by the end of the current fiscal year. Average ship waiting time has reduced from 6–8 days to 1 day due to improved port management.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) plans to float an open tender to appoint a temporary operator for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) as its current operator’s contract expires in early January 2024. The CPA chairman, speaking on November 18, highlighted the move towards a participatory and competitive bidding process by proposing amendments to a 2018 directive that had restricted eligibility.

The cost of the 17.2 km MRT-5 (Southern Route) from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi has been slashed by Tk6,898 crore, reducing the project budget from Tk54,619 crore to Tk47,721 crore. This adjustment, led by the interim government's Planning Commission Adviser, follows a detailed review initiated after April 2024.

Businesses are losing interest in using the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) in Keraniganj, established in 2013 to ease cargo pressure on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway and rail routes. Despite its promise of low-cost, efficient cargo transport, high freight rates and lengthy customs procedures have rendered much of its capacity unused.

Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is set to fully implement a digital gate fee payment system for cargo vehicles by late November, reducing vehicle entry time from 15-20 minutes to just 1-2 minutes. This system, initially introduced in July 2021 but delayed due to a lack of trained professionals, allows drivers to pre-pay the Tk57.50 entry fee via mobile banking, eliminating manual processing delays and expected to cut congestion significantly.

The Padma Rail Link Project has achieved a significant milestone by saving Tk1,845 crore from its original Tk39,246 crore budget, with costs revised down to Tk37,401 crore. Early completion—seven months ahead of its 30 June 2025 deadline—helped avoid inflation-related costs, alongside implementing cost-effective measures, saving Tk1,223.65 crore during the implementation phase.