<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (October 27, 2022) inaugurated several development projects, including capital dredging of a key channel, aimed at creating better facilities at Payra Seaport.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The premier inaugurated the development prigrammes through video conference from her official residence Gono Bhaban.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Under the programme, she launched eight ships and vessels, inaugurated the first terminal and the construction of a six-lane approach road and a bridge.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Through the capital dredging of the seaport's Rabnabad channel, a 75km-long, 100-125meter-wide and 10.5meter-deep channel will be created, according to the project profile.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Once operational, a total of 40,000 tons of cargo or 3000 container-laden ships will be able to dock at the port. The channel is being built by Belgian dredging company--Jan De Nul at an estimated cost of Tk 5,000 crore</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Among the eight vessels, two are pilot vessels, two are heavy duty speedboats, one is a buoy laying vessel, one is a survey boat and two are tugboats.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">These ships and vessels will help the port authority to monitor the arrival and departure of foreign ships and maintain the channel, according to the Shipping Ministry.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Once the construction of the first terminal, the six-lane highway and the bridge is completed, a total of three foreign ships carrying containers or bulk cargos will be able to dock simultaneously at the Payra Seaport. The terminal will cost Tk 4,500 crore and will be opened for operation in December, 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The 6.35km-long, six-lane approach road is being built by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD). Spectra Engineers Limited has been given the responsibility of the construction at a cost of Tk 655 crore. The road will also be opened to traffic in December, 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">A 1,180 metre-long bridge is being built over the Andharmanik river to transport goods of the Payra Seaport. The bridge will cost Tk 780 crore and will be constructed over a period of two and a half years.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The prime minister inaugurated the Payra Seaport on November 19, 2013. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>