The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a total of 13 projects involving Taka 7,744.47 crore, including one to strengthen and expand the power transmission system in Chattogram region with Taka 1,358.88 crore.
The approval came from the 1st ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 13 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 7,744.47 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Taka 6,414.97 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh, Taka 189.06 crore from the organization’s own fund while the rest Taka 1,140.44 crore from project assistance,”
Of the approved 13 projects, 10 are new while the remaining three are revised projects.
Besides, the minister said, the meeting approved a proposal to extend the timeframe of a project without increasing the cost. The project is titled “Establishment of three handloom service centers in different loom intensive area (2nd revised)”.
The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh will implement the Power Transmission system extension and strengthening system in Chattogram project by June 2022 in a bid to upgrade the power transmission system infrastructures at Anwara, Patia, Hathazari and Chattogram City.
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The objectives of the project are to facilitate evacuation of produced power to the national grid from the power plants at Anwara upazila and thus meeting the growing demand of power at Chattogram city and the adjacent industrial, residential and commercial areas.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will provide Taka 925.27 crore for the project.
The planning minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting gave a set of directives to the authorities concerned. Her directives include setting up slow moving lanes on the highways for the slow moving vehicles.
Besides, he said, the premier suggested making rest areas on the highways after certain distance, especially with the initiatives from the private sector, having toilet and other necessary facilities.
The Prime Minister directed the Postal Department to adjust their business operations in line with the changing world like introducing various online and financial services since there is no such big trend of exchanging letters now.
She also directed setting up a green park at the main office of the GPO in the city’s Paltan area since the headquarters of the Postal Department is being shifted to Agargaon on a 16-storey building.
The Prime Minister suggested that the universities should not enroll students beyond their capacities rather new universities would be set up to absorb the growing number of students. Side by side, the universities should give due emphasis on conducting researches.
The Prime Minister also said that all the national, regional and district highways would be gradually widened and thickness of those would be enhanced.
The premier also informed that a natural park would be set up at Sonadia while a sea aquarium in Cox’s Bazar.
The other projects approved in the meeting are Upgrading Bogura (Jahangirabad)-Natore National Highway to due standard and width with Taka 707.32 crore, Widening of Dhaka (Mirpur)-Utholi-Paturia National Highway from Nabinagar to Noyarhat and Paturia Ghat area alongside constructing dedicated lane, service lane and bus bay at various bus stand areas at Paturia Ghat with Taka 696.31 crore, Upgrading Laksam (Binoyghar)-Baiyara Bazar-Omarganj-Nangolkot district highway into due standard and width with Taka 61.45 crore, Modernization of city street light system at different areas under Chattogram City Corporation with Taka 260.90 crore, Rehabilitation of dilapidated postal offices under the postal department, 2nd phase, 1st Revised with Taka 225.06 crore, Further development of Shahjalal Science and Technology University with Taka 987.79 crore, Modernization of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment and setting up 13 district offices with Taka 226.34 crore, Strengthening Fertilizer management operations through maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing godowns of BADC and constructing new godowns, 2nd phase with Taka 311 crore, Protecting Tazumuddin upazila from the River erosion of River Meghna through protecting right embankment, 1st Revised with Taka 609.38 crore, Development and extension of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Cox’s Bazar, 2nd phase with Taka 126.52 crore, construction of nine bridges at Brahmanbaria with Taka 120.57 crore and Power Distribution System Development Project, Sylhet Division, 1st Revised with Taka 2,052.95 crore.
(BSS)
