Ecnec gives go-ahead to Hatirjheel project

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved Tk 1,474 crore Hatirjheel Integrated Development Project aimed to address much of the city's waterlogging and traffic congestion problems.
In addition, 11 other projects involving Tk 3,584 crore were also okayed in yesterday's meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed.
Starting this fiscal year, the Hatirjheel project will establish an east-west transport link in the capital stretching over Karwan Bazar-Tejgaon-Malibagh-Rampura-Gulshan belt. It will be completed by 2010.
Once the project begins, the establishments falling under its 245-acre area including 15-storey BGMEA building, FBCCI and BKMEA buildings, fuelling stations and some residences, will come under demolition.
When the issue of demolition was raised at the meeting, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said that existing laws would take their due course in this regard, sources said.
Talking to the reporters after the meeting, Planning Secretary Zafar Ahmed Chowdhury could not confirm whether the BGMEA building will have to be demolished or not. "I can't confirm you as the project paper is not with me."
The meeting approved Tk 5,058 crore for implementing the 12 projects, including the Hatirjheel project. Of the total expenditure, Tk 1,609 crore comes from the donors.
The government will have to acquire nearly 245 acres of land involving Tk 1010 crore to implement the long-awaiting project. Of the land, 133.40 acres are government properties while 111.3434 acres are under private ownership.
To acquire the private land, the government will have to pay Tk 459.48 crore while the government land will be acquired through book of transfer.
Under the project, the Begunbari canal will be dredged to prevent flooding and waterlogging.
In addition, low-lying areas in the middle of Hatirjheel will be developed and the wastewater will be disposed. Roads and walkways will be built around the whole Hatirjheel area to check illegal grabbing of land and stop traffic congestion.
Besides, there will be driveways by the canal from behind Hotel Sonargaon to Rampura, an overpass on the Tongi Diversion Road on the east part of Panthapath, bridge connecting Moghbazar Wireless Gate and Tejgaon Industrial Area, forestation, bus bays and parking spaces.
Eleven kilometres of road and footpath, 14-kilometre walkway, 320-metre bridge and 250-metre overpass will be built.
Other projects got the go-ahead yesterday include National Agriculture Technological Project (first phase) at Tk 604 crore, Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Capacity Building Project at Tk 119 crore, Regional Fisheries and Livestock Development Project (Barisal Component) at Tk 101 crore, Regional Fisheries and Livestock Development Project (Noakhali Component) at Tk 77 crore and Moulvibazar Meteorological Radar System Setup Project at Tk 88 crore.
In addition, systems loss reducing of acquired electricity lines (revised project) estimated at Tk1024 crore, Shikolbaha 150 MW power plant construction at Tk 778 crore, construction of bridge over Bolleshwar river (revised project) at Tk 36 crore, shed, expansion and development of Dhaka Railway Station (revised project) at Tk 30 crore, BMR of KPM Ltd project at Tk 182 crore and Leather Industry City, Dhaka, (revised) project at Tk 545 crore were also approved.