Govt okays 12 projects worth Tk 6,650cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved 12 new and revised projects involving Tk 6,650 crore.

One of the projects is for constructing 13,000 small bridges and culverts that will connect earthen roads in rural areas.

The Ecnec allocated Tk 3,684 crore for building the bridges and culverts; the construction work will begin by 2019.

A planning ministry official said the bridges would not only improve communication but also contribute to poverty alleviation.

A total of 4,959 bridges and culverts were constructed in 459 upazilas between 1994 and 2009, according to a planning ministry proposal.

The number was 1,615 between 2009 and 2012.

From 2012 to 2016, a total of 4,928 bridges will be built at a cost of Tk 1,085 crore, which is now under implementation.

Another project -- Running and Development of Upazilas -- has been taken at a cost of Tk 1,059 crore, where Japanese agency JICA will provide Tk 956 crore.

The project aims to strengthen the local government system, and in the first phase, 100 upazilas will be brought under the scheme.

Under the project, educational equipment, medical equipment including ambulances, water supply equipment, and agricultural machinery will be supplied to those upazilas.

The Ecnec also revised, for the second time, a project to set up four textile institutes at an estimated cost of Tk 275 crore, which was Tk 127 crore initially. The tenure of the project has been extended till 2018 from 2013.

The project has been taken to produce skilled manpower for the garment and textile sectors. The institutes will be set up in Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur.

In its proposal, the planning ministry said the cost is rising because of a delay in land acquisition and extension of project tenure.

Another project -- Support to Joydebpur-Debgram-Bhulta-Madanpur (Dhaka bypass) -- has been taken at a cost of Tk 236 crore under a public private partnership initiative.

The project will oversee land purchase and rehabilitation, transfer of utilities, and hire independent engineers for project monitoring. When it is completed, the Mymensingh, Tongi, Sylhet and Chittagong roads will be connected by the bypass.