The Roads and Highways Department of Bangladesh has an asset value of Taka 37,000 crore (US$7,4000 million) the largest component of which is value of road and bridges. Whereas well maintained roads increase speeds and reduce the quantity of fuel, spare parts and tyres consumed, not maintaining the roads has a cost to the economy; national economic growth is probably slowed by about 1 percent of GDP of each year. And again, road maintenance provides a very high return on invested capital. The HDM software now being used for RHD road management system shows that there is a huge backlog resulting from a lack of appropriate asset management in the past. Investment of Taka 2400 crore is needed in the short term to arrest the deterioration in the condition of roads. The sum is rising each year at an accelerating rate whilst maintenance continues to be underfunded. Long term maintenance needs amount to Taka 600 crore per annum. As the current allocation is only around Taka 150 crore, so an annual deficit of Taka 450 crore is being accumulated each year. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E208431.
Samenvatting