ECNEC okays eight projects at Tk 51.42b

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) rejected a Tk 4.52-billion cost project to procure Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) trains, as the trains are not functioning well.
The ECNEC also turned down a Tk 1.20-billion project for construction of stadiums in six selected upazilas.
Presided over by Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina, the ECNEC meeting in Dhaka on Tuesday, however, approved eight other projects at a combined cost of Tk 51.42 billion.
When the Planning Commission (PC) placed two projects - one for procuring DEMU trains to connect the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park in Kaliakoir, Gazipur to Dhaka, and the other for constructing six stadiums in selected upazilas - the ECNEC refused to approve those.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Railway (BR) imported 20 sets of DEMU trains from China at Tk 6.54 billion cost more than six years ago, most of which are inoperative now due to technical faults.
In the ECNEC meeting, the PM directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to take up a new project for building mini stadiums at open space in all upazilas across the country.
She also suggested the authorities concerned not to construct the stadiums on any school or college premises, rather to build those in other places. She also advised to build gallery on one side of the mini stadiums and to keep other three sides open.
After the ECNEC meeting, Planning Secretary Muhammad Nurul Amin said the meeting endorsed eight projects and rejected two others.
He also said the eight projects - six new and two revised - were approved at a total cost of Tk 51.42 billion.
"Of the total cost, Tk 41.29 billion will come from internal resources, while the rest Tk 10.12 billion as project assistance from the development partners."
The ECNEC meeting approved Widening and strengthening of important upazila and union-level roads in Dhaka division project at Tk 26.06 billion, Overhauling and widening of main road from Holiday Circle-Bazarghata-Larpara (bus-stand) under Cox's Bazar town project at Tk 2.9 billion, and Establishment of telecommunication network at Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chattogram project at Tk 619 million.
The other approved projects are: Irrigation development in Pabna-Natore-Sirajganj upazilas through using surface water at Tk 5.60 billion, Chittagong Hill Tracts rural development project 2nd phase (3rd revised) at Tk 2.24 billion, Veterinary Public Health Service strengthening project for protecting public health at Tk 732.6 million, and Export competitiveness for jobs project (1st revised) at Tk 10.12 billion.
Sheikh Hasina at the ECNEC meeting also asked the authorities concerned to frame a master-plan by the Cox's Bazar Development Authority before undertaking any development project there.
The PM also directed the deputy commissioner (DC) of Cox's Bazar to frame a plan, so that buildings and other infrastructures are not mushroomed here and there in Cox's Bazar.
Ministers, the PC members, and high officials concerned were present at the meeting.

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