Dhaka Bureau: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Tk 11,072 crore to make Payra seaport world class. On Thursday (October 27) morning, he inaugurated these projects through a virtual video conference from his official residence Ganabhaban. Development projects include capital dredging of the port, opening of eight ships, first terminal and six-lane connecting road and a bridge.
According to sources concerned, these development projects will enable the port to function at its full potential and add a new dimension to the country’s foreign trade, the benefits of which the nation will enjoy for ages. Payra Seaport Authority will implement these projects.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated Payra Seaport on November 19, 2013, the notice said, so far 260 sea-going ships have arrived at the port, through which about Tk 548 crore in revenue has been generated.
State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping. Mustafa Kamal and Payarabandar Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail spoke at the event held at Kalapara in Patuakhali.
During this time, the documentary film on Pyarabandar and development projects was shown.
Capital dredging of the seaport’s Ravanabad channel will create a 75-km-long, 100-125-metre-wide and 10.5-metre-deep channel, which will have the capacity to dock ships carrying 40,000 tonnes of cargo or 3,000 containers at the port.
The capital dredging channel will cost approximately Rs 4,950 crore and the dredging will be done by Belgium-based dredging company-Jan de Null.
The ships and boats built at a cost of Tk 209.74 crore for the Payra seaport will help the port authorities monitor the arrival and departure of foreign ships and maintain the channel.
Eight vessels including two pilot vessels, two heavy duty speedboats, one buoy laying vessel, one survey boat and two tugboats were inaugurated on the day.
Once the construction of the first terminal, six-lane highway and bridge is completed, three foreign ships carrying containers or bulk cargo will be able to dock at Payra seaport.
It will be commissioned for operations by December 2023 after completion of construction of the first terminal at a cost of Tk 4,516.75 crore.
The 6.35 km long six-lane link road is being constructed by the Roads and Highways Department.
Spectra Engineers Limited has been appointed to construct the road at a cost of Tk 655 crore 50 lakh. The construction of the road is expected to be completed by December 2023.
A 1,180-meter long bridge will be built over the Andharmanik river at a cost of Tk 740 crore for the transportation of goods from Payra seaport.
The bridge is expected to be constructed in 30 months (two and a half years). Source: Bass
