The draft fifth five-year (1997-2002) plan has projected an outlay of Tk 24221 crore for the development of the coun-tr^s transport sector, reports

The outlay has been proposed to cope with the demand of the transport's growth which is assumed to be 7.5 and 8 per cent for passenger and freight traffic respectively for 2002 In consideration of increased GDP growth rate.

Of the projected amount, the government's contribution will be Tk 12221 crore and the rest Tk 12000 crore Is expected to come from the private sector To encourage the private sector to increase its involvement, the government will create a favourable environment with regard to tariff regulation, import policy, credit facilities and training facilities.

The government's contribution includes Tk 6321 crore for road transport. Tk 2350 crore

for railway. Tk 1350 crore for water transport, Tk 750 crore for air transport and Tk 1450 crore for Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge.

The expected private sector contribution includes Tk 4000 crore in road Infrastructure and services, Tk 1000 crore in rail infrastructure and services, Tk 4500 crore In water transport infrastructure and Tk 2500 crore In civil aviation.

Under the draft plan, the major projects for the transport sector are — completion of Jamuna bridge. Jamuna railway link project, construction of three major road bridges, two in the Mongla/Khulna-northwest corridor and one In Dhaka-Sylhet corridor, construction of container terminals at Chittagong sea port and expansion and modernisation of container handling facilities, set ting up of a new cargo-cum-gen-eral container composite port at Dhaka, inland railway container depot at Dhaka and Tongi/Joydeypur. maintenance of the draft of sea ports as well as inland navigational channels through dredging, development of a deep sea port in Chittagong, and development of Chittagong and Sylhet airports up to international standard.

The development outlay for this sector was Tk 6217 crore in the fourth five year (1990-95) plan.