ECNEC approves 15 projects worth Taka 17,987 crore

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 DHAKA, Feb 27, 2018 (BSS) – The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a total of 15 projects worth Taka 17,987 crore.

The projects include the ‘Eastern zone grid network extension and capacity strengthening’ project involving an estimated cost of Taka 5,803.94 crore in a bid to ensure reliable power supply to greater Comilla, Noakhali and Chittagong Region.

The approval came from the 18th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of 15 projects were approved today with an overall estimated cost of Taka 17,987.23 crore.

“Of the total project cost, Taka 11,940.32 crore will come from the GoB portion, Taka 523.69 crore from the organisation’s own fund while the rest of Taka 5,523.22 crore from project assistance,” he said.

Of the approved 15 projects, 13 are new while two are revised projects.

The Planning Minister said Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited under the Power Division will implement the Eastern Zone Grid Network Extension and Capacity Strengthening Project by December 2021 with Taka 3,642.48 crore loan assistance from the World Bank.

The project, which also aims to meet the growing power demand of the region alongside reducing wastage, will be implemented at 35 upazilas under 9 districts of Dhaka and Chittagong divisions.

According to the Power System Master Plan 2016, there is a need to establish such power transmission system across the country which will be capable of transmitting around 40,000 MW of power by 2030.

Under the circumstances, the project has been approved to boost the capacity of the Eastern Zone Grid Network.

The main project operations include erection of some 12.63 kilometre 400 KV transmission lines, setting up 175.91 kilometer 230 KV Transmission lines as well as 256.3 kilometre 132 KV Transmission lines, construction of some 14 Power sub stations, six bay extensions and some 86 acres of land acquisition.

The day’s ECNEC meeting also gave nod to the conversion of Parbatipur to Kaunia meter gauge railway line into dual gauge project with an estimated cost of Taka 1,683.21 crore.

Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 315.97 crore while the rest of Taka 1,367.24 crore will come from the Indian Line of Credit to be implemented by Bangladesh Railway by December 2022.

Once the project is implemented, it will also help to boost trans border trade and commerce.

The other projects approved in the meeting are land acquisition, development and protection for Patuakhali 1320 MW super thermal power plant with Taka 819.51 crore, farmers’ training for transferring technology to upazila level (3rd phase) project with Taka 314.29 crore, nutrition development through round the year production of fruits, (1st revised) with Taka 299.23 crore, small irrigation development and irrigation capacity strengthening through preserving surface water in Rangpur region with Taka 140.78 crore.

The approved projects also include affected rural road infrastructures rehabilitation damaged due to floods and disasters with Taka 2,785.18 crore, ensuring environmental sanitation including water supply and human waste management in 32 pourashavas with Taka 712.65 crore, development of road infrastructures and drainage system at Nasirabad, Dakshingao, Demra and Manda areas under Dhaka South City Corporation with Taka 476.29 crore, Kalukhali- Bhatiapara section rehabilitation and construction of new railway track on Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara route (2nd revised) with Taka 2,110.27 crore.

The other approved projects are erection of barb wire along the periphery of various BOPs for Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) with Taka 158.39 crore, upgrading district highways to due standard and width (Barisal Zone) with Taka 667.35 crore, Jamalpur-Chechua-Muktagachha Highway widening and strengthening (including Brahmaputra bridge approach) with Taka 460.08 crore, establishment of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Gazipur with Taka 924.06 crore and Bangladesh Insurance sector development project with Taka 632 crore.