ECNEC okays MRT-6 project 2nd revision, cost rises by Tk 114.87b

PM urges all to maintain austerity in power consumption

FE Team | Published: July 20, 2022 00:06:17

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all concerned, including the stakeholders in public and private sector, to maintain austerity in all fields, including in power consumption, in the wake of global inflationary situation, reports BSS.
If all concerned could pursue austerity, then the country would be benefitted, said the premier while chairing the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in the current fiscal year on Tuesday.
She joined the meeting virtually from her official Ganobhaban residence while Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission members and Secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the head of the government has urged everyone to maintain austerity in all spheres.
"Let us all maintain austerity, the Prime Minister has asked the government machinery including bureaucracy and the common citizens to maintain austerity," he added.
The Planning Minister said Bangladesh is being affected by the impact of current global situation while the country is also being affected by the price hike of fuel oil.
"We'll have to remain alert to face the impact of that product which we do not produce. The Prime Minister has mainly suggested the countrymen to maintain austerity for such reason," he said
State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all to maintain austerity and stop misuse of utilities as like as she had suggested earlier for not wearing suites at offices in summer and operating air conditioners in government offices at a certain temperature.
Mannan said the government has noticed that prices of some items like rice and edible oil are on the downtrend which indicates that the inflation would decline in the coming days.
ECNEC approved the 2nd revision of the much hyped Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (Line-6) project with an additional cost of Taka 114.86 billion (11,486.92 crore) in order to introduce a modern public transportation system in the capital for giving respite to the city dwellers from traffic congestion.
Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of eight projects were approved in the meeting involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 158.56 billion (15,856.80 crore). "Of the total project cost, Taka 124.44 billion (12,444.25 crore) will come from the government of Bangladesh, Taka 1.34 billion (134.57 crore) from the concerned organisation's own fund while the rest Taka 3,277.98 crore as project assistance."
As per the 2nd revision of the Metro Rail Project, there will be civil works, rolling stocks modification, E & M system and station plaza construction from Motijheel to Kamalapur Line. With the latest revision, the length of the metro rail (Line-6) will increase by 1.16 km while the total cost will reach Taka 334.71 billion (33,471.99 crore).
The other projects approved in the meeting are Upgrading Hathazari to Raozan portion of Chattogram-Rangamati national highway into four-lane with Taka 104.69 crore, Upgrading Itakhola-Mothkhola-Katiadi Road and Noyapara-Araihazar-Narsingdi-Raipura regional highway into due standard and width at a cost of Taka 984.85 crore, Construction of Pipeline from Dhonua to Mymensingh for ensuring gas supply to Mymensingh Combined Cycle Power Plant at a cost of Taka 553.16 crore.