PM inaugurates several development projects at Payra Seaport

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several development projects at Payra Seaport today by joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban on Thursday (27 October). 

Tk11,072 crore development works include capital dredging of the port, the inauguration of eight ships, the first terminal and construction of a six-lane approach road and a bridge.

The capital dredging of the seaport's Rabnabad channel will create a 75km-long, 100-125meter-wide and 10.5meter-deep channel, building a capacity to dock 40,000 tons of cargo or 3000 container-laden ships at the port The capital dredging channel will cost an estimated Tk4,950 crore while Belgium based dredging company--Jan De Nul will carry out the dredging work.

Ships and vessels built for the Payra Seaport at a cost of Tk209.74 crore will help the port authority to monitor the arrival and departure of foreign ships and maintain the channel.

Eight vessels were inaugurated on Thursday, these include two pilot vessels, two heavy-duty speedboats, a buoy laying vessel, a survey boat and two tugboats.

Once the construction of the first terminal, the six-lane highway and the bridge is completed, three foreign ships carrying containers or bulk cargos will be able to dock simultaneously at the Payra Seaport.

After completing the construction work of the first terminal at a cost of Tk4,516.75 crore, it will be opened for operation by December, 2023.

The 6.35km-long six-lane approach road is being constructed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

Spectra Engineers Limited has been appointed to construct the road at a cost of Tk655.50 crore. The construction work of the road is expected to be completed by December, 2023.

A 1,180-meter-long bridge will be built at a cost of Tk740 crore over the Andharmanik river to transport goods of the Payra Seaport.

The bridge is expected to be constructed in 30 months.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Payra Seaport on 19 November in 2013.