Govt to build 317km road along India, Myanmar border

The government has approved a road construction project along 317 kilometres (kms) of the 540kms of its border with India and Myanmar, report agencies.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Tk 17 billion 'Border Road (Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban Hill District) Construction Project 1st Phase' at a meeting on Tuesday.
ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city.
While briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and the Special Works Organisation of Bangladesh Army have been given the responsibility to implement the project.
The project will be completed in six upazilas of Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Rangamati and Cox's Bazar districts by June 2021.
Out of the proposed 317 kilometres roads, some 40 kilometres will be constructed on the Ukhia-Ashartoli-Fooltuli route, 52 kilometres on the Sajek-Shildah-Betling, 95 kilometres on Sajek-Dokanghat-Thegamukh, and 130 kilometres on Thegamukh-Loitongpara-Thachhi-Dumdumia-Rajsthali route.
The Planning Minister said 16 projects were approved Tuesday with an overall estimated cost of Tk 96.80 billion.
Of the approved 16 projects, 12 are new while four are revised ones.