Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to focus on expansion of railways rather than constructing more roads and highways across the country.
She laid emphasis on establishing an integrated communication system, comprising roads, railways, waterways and airways.
The PM also asked the authorities to protect the rivers across the country as well as ponds and water bodies in the capital city.
She gave the directives at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in Dhaka on Tuesday, Planning Minister MA Mannan told a media briefing after the meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting that endorsed eight projects at a total cost of Tk 62.76 billion.
The planning minister said that out of the total cost, Tk 33.14 billion will come from the national exchequer and the remaining Tk 29.62 billion from external resources as project assistance.
Among the approved projects, the ECNEC endorsed setting up of an economic zone in Narayanganj for Japanese investors at a cost of Tk 25.82 billion.
Mr Mannan said the "Development of Infrastructure for Japanese Economic Zone at Araihazar in Narayaganj Project" will be implemented by June 2023.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide Tk 21.28 billion as the project assistance while the remaining Tk 4.54 billion will come from the governments' own fund.
The ECNEC also approved construction of 340 bridges in the upazila, union and village areas under 61 districts at a cost of Tk 19.83 billion.
The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) will implement the project by June 2023.
The six other projects are: Providing working capital to the waivers for their socio-economic development and modernisation of handlooms project at Tk1.58 billion; Tuber crops development project at Tk 1.56 billion; Tulshi Ganga, Choto Jamuna, Ciri and Harabati River re-excavation project under Joypurhat district at Tk 1.23 billion; Dhaka city neighborhood upgrading project at Tk 8.80 billion; Development and renovation of temples and religious institutions at Tk 2.28 billion and Preparation of the students' profile at the primary level at Tk 1.64 billion cost.
Ministers, Planning Commission members, secretaries of the ministries concerned were present at the ECNEC meeting.
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