Tk 3,136cr projects get Ecnec nod

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at a meeting yesterday approved eight development schemes involving Tk 3,136 crore that includes the Laksam-Chandpur section railway rehabilitation project aimed at ensuring safe and fast train communications.
Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city.
“Of the total projects cost, Tk 1,414 crore will come from the government, Tk 40 crore from the JDCF and Tk 1,682 crore as project assistance,” said Planning Minister AK Khandker while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Planning ministry sources said the railway rehabilitation project will be implemented at a cost of Tk 169 crore to be borne by the government. The project is likely to be completed by June 2013.
Under the project, some 55.01 kilometers of railway track (51.12km main line and 3.89 km of loop and side line) will be rehabilitated. The project area covers Laksam upazila of Comilla, and Hajiganj, Shahrasti and Sadar upazilas of Chandpur district.
Besides, some six railway stations will be re-constructed and two others will be repaired under the project. The economic life of all the eight stations has already expired as these were constructed in 1895.
The railway stations to be reconstructed are Shahtali, Modhuroad, Balakhal, Hajiganj, Mehar and Chitoshi road while the two railway stations to be repaired are Chandpur and Chandpur Court. A waiting hall will also be set up at the Chandpur railway station.
Besides, the Modhuroad station will also be upgraded to 'B' class from 'D' class while 13 bridges will be reconstructed and 49 bridges repaired and their guarders installed.
The other projects approved in the meeting are 26 (Greater Dhaka, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, Comilla, Sylhet, Chittagong and Noakhali district) project-3rd revised (Tk 2,603 crore), Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University further development project (Tk 91 crore), communication activities in child and women development-3rd phase revised project (Tk 34 crore), infrastructure development project of Rajshahi metropolis (79 crore), road widening and development project of Roads and Highways Department in Rangpur Sadar (Tk 78 crore), Magura-Mohammadpur-Kalishankar-Nouhata-Lohagara road development project (Tk 33 crore), and the project for pollution control measures of Gulshan-Baridhara lake by diverting the drainage outlets (Tk 49 crore).