The government has approved a one-kilometre road-widening project to be developed in the capital at an estimated cost of Tk 1.46 billion.
The cost is much higher than the average expenditure of similar other projects in the city, a senior official at the Planning Commission told the FE, requesting anonymity.
Bangladesh Army will construct the "Road widening and development project from Mirpur-12 to Mirpur DOHS gate-2". The project was approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in the capital on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting that approved total 16 projects at a cumulative cost of Tk 52.21 billion. The projects also included establishment of BNS Sher-e-Bangla Patuakhali at an expenditure of Tk 10.81 billion.
The 1.056-km road project, scheduled to be developed by December this year, is considered to be a key corridor for entering into the Mirpur cantonment and Mirpur DOHS residential areas in the city.
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) officials explained that the cost of the project is seemed to be higher as it will require acquiring 0.59 acres of land. The land in that area is very expensive, they said.
Emerging from the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that out of the total expenditure of Tk 52.21 billion for the 16 projects, the government will provide Tk 47.44 billion from the internal resources, Tk 4.62 billion from the external resources as project aid and the rest Tk 138.3 million would come from the agencies concerned.
He said the BNS Sher-e-Bangla Patuakhali would be set up at Lalua adjacent to Payra Port under Kolapara upazila in Patuakhali. The Ministry of Defence, Bangladesh Navy and the Engineer-in-Chief Section of Dhaka Cantonment will implement the project by June 2021.
Considering the existing number of naval bases, location and scarcity of manpower, directives are already there to set up a full-fledged naval command, naval bases with jetty facilities and a 150-bed hospital at Rabnabad in Patuakhali in line with the Forces Goal 2030.
The minister said that like Chittagong, the areas in and around Payra Port will be designed in a way to promote trade, commerce and industries.
The project also aims at providing security and protection to the Payra seaport, commercial marine vessels and ships at deep sea and in the coastal areas as well as to fishing trawlers/boats, and to blue economy-related maritime institutions.
The other approved projects included smart pre-paid metering project for West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited at Tk 4.26 billion, protection of right embankment of River Padma at Janzira and Naria upazilas in Shariatpur district project at Tk 10.97 billion, disaster risk management enhancement project (component 2, 3) at Tk 6.20 billion, small irrigation development at Tangail and Kishoreganj districts under Mymensingh and Dhaka divisions at Tk 1.39 billion, soil research and research facilities strengthening project (SRSRF) at Tk 630.8 million, Sheikh Russell Aviary and Echo Park Instalment at Rangunia in Chittagong, (2nd phase) project at Tk 1.25 billion, afforestation in the coastal areas including the newly emerged char areas in the Bay of Bengal at Tk 1.05 billion, and capacity strengthening of existing runway and taxiway of Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport at Tk 5.40 billion cost.
It also endorsed the introduction of tourism facilities at Parky and Patenga in Chittagong project at Tk 621.1 million, Salna (Rajendrapur)-Kapasia-Tok-Mothkhola highway widening and strengthening project at Tk 2.24 billion, construction of seven bridges replacing the damaged bailey bridges on Pagla-Jagannathpur- Raniganj-Aushakandi road and another bridge over River Abua on Niyamatpur-Tahirpur road at Tk 1.41 billion, upward extension of ENCOM building for modernisation and enhancing capacity of police department at Tk 1.56 billion, construction of Mujib battery complex at Chittagong Artillery Center and school at Tk 1.80 billion, and establishment of Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Dental College and Hospital, Gopalganj (1st revised) project at Tk 1.13 billion.
The Planning Minister said the ECNEC meeting also dropped two conditions from the "Power distribution extension and strengthening under DPDC area" project, which was earlier approved in December last year with an estimated cost of Tk 205.01 billion.
Ministers, Planning Commission members and high officials of the government were present at the ECNEC meeting.
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