The government is at the final stage of formulating the first Participatory Perspective Planning (2010-2021), which will be the main guideline to development in the proposed sixth and seventh five-year plans, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandakar said at a consultation yesterday.
The minister said development of communication especially railway and waterway would be given special priority.
The national consultation on infrastructural development of the country under the Participatory Perspective Planning (2010-2021) was organised by the General Economic Division (GED) of Planning Commission at the NEC auditorium in the city.
The planning minister added that the rich waterways and railways of the country have been severely neglected over the years damaging its possibility. Construction of unplanned roads led to many problems. There are plans to revive these two sectors.
Among many other plans to revive the rail sector, construction of 836kms of rail track, 213kms of double track, 2 rail bridges, procurement of 186 locomotives and 1403 wagons is on the pipeline, he said.
Currently there are 21571kms of road network in the country and 2855kms of rail network.
In the water transport sector there are plans to increase navigability of rivers, prevent water transport accidents and provide cheaper, safer and comfortable journey through the waterways, he added.
The construction of the Second Padma Bridge, Second Meghna Bridge and Second Meghna-Gomti Bridge is also being considered, he mentioned.
Dr Shamsul Alam, member of GED, and Md Habibullah Majumder, secretary to planning division, also addressed the inaugural session.