Ecnec okays four projects worth Tk 1,668cr

The government yesterday gave go-ahead to four projects worth Tk 1,668 crore, including the revised budget of the rural infrastructural development project for Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari.

Of the amount, the national exchequer will provide Tk 1,524 crore and the rest will come from the related organisations.

The approvals came from a virtual meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) chaired by Prime Minister and Ecnec Chairperson Sheikh Hasina.

The premier joined the meeting from Gono Bhaban through videoconference while other Ecnec members were connected from the NEC Bhaban.

Some of the schemes which were needed to complete the Madaripur, Shariatpur and Rajbari project were not included in the primary plan, the planning ministry said in its proposal seeking a revision in its budget.

The cost of some bridges, which are needed to be built now, was also not included in the primary plan of the project.

The Ecnec meeting responded positively and increased the project cost by Tk 549 crore to Tk 2,109.17 crore.

The project was taken to build new rural roads for easy transportation in villages, bazaars, healthcare centres and educational institutions and to create short- and long-term jobs for the rural people.

The Ecnec also approved a Tk 566.76 crore project for the development of the Jashore airport, Syedpur airport and Shah Makhdum airport in Rajshahi.

Under the project, concrete overlays will be applied on the runways, airfield ground lighting systems of the airports will be upgraded, runway drainage facilities will be developed and modern firefighting vehicles will be bought.

The government will give Tk 453 crore for the project scheduled to be complete by June 2023 while the rest will come from the airport authorities.

The one of the other two projects that were approved yesterday was taken for land acquisition and development of waste management in Narayanganj City Corporation.

The project scheduled to be completed by December 2022 will need Tk 301 crore.

The cost of the other project for irrigation in Dinajpur and Joypurhat is estimated at Tk 251 crore and it would be completed within June of 2024.