The loan agreement for specialised Rapid bus service project for smooth movement of the commuters from northern city outskirts would be inked in May.

The Detail Project Proposal (DPP) of BRT is likely to get approval of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) by April, a communications ministry official told newsmen after a meeting with ADB delegates at the ministry yesterday.

A seven member high powered delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by its vice president Xiaoyu Zhao along with the country director M. Teresa Kho met Communications Minister Obaidul Quader and talked about the progress of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) project.

The cost of Airport-Gazipur section of the project has been estimated at $ 255 million in which ADB will contribute $ 160 million, Agency France for Development (AFD) $ 45 million and Global Environment Facility (GEF) $ 4.6 million. The rest $ 45.4 million will be arranged by Bangladesh. The project is expected to be complete by March 2016.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 16th March 2012