The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has cleared a total of 13 projects, including one to strengthen and expand the power transmission system in Chattogram region, reports UNB.
The approval came at the first ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
"The overall estimated cost of the 13 projects is Tk 77.44 billion," Planning Minister MA Mannan said while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Of the amount, the government will provide Tk 64.14 billion while Tk 1.89 billion will come from own funds of the organisations concerned. The remaining amount will come as project assistance, he said.
Ten of the projects are fresh ones while others are revised projects.
The minister said the meeting approved a proposal to extend the timeframe of a project titled 'Establishment of three handloom service centers in different loom intensive area (2nd revised)' without increasing its cost.
About the Chattogram power transmission project, he said the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh will implement it by June 2022.
The power transmission infrastructure at Anwara, Patiya, Hathazari and Chattogram City will be upgraded under the project.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suggested that the universities should not enroll students beyond their capacities.
She also said new universities will be established to cope with the growing number of students.
Planning Minister Mannan said the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to earmark a separate lane on highways for slow-moving vehicles. She also said all national, regional and district highways would be gradually widened.
Sheikh Hasina also informed the meeting that a natural park will be developed at Sonadia Dwip, while a sea aquarium will be set up in Cox's Bazar.
Other projects approved at the meeting include Power Distribution System Development Project, Sylhet Division (1st Revised), involving Tk 20.52 billion, further development of Shahjalal Science and Technology University (Tk 9.87 billion), upgrading of Bogura (Jahangirabad)-Natore National Highway (Tk 7.07 billion), widening of Dhaka (Mirpur)-Utholi-Paturia National Highway from Nabinagar to Noyarhat and Paturia Ghat area alongside constructing dedicated lane, service lane and bus bay at various bus stand areas at Paturia Ghat (Tk 6.96 billion) and a project for protecting Tazumuddin upazila from the erosion of Meghna River through protecting right embankment, 1st Revised, (Tk 6.09 billion).
Several other projects are strengthening fertiliser management operations through maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing godowns of BADC and constructing new godowns, 2nd phase, (Tk 3.11 billion), modernisation of city street light system at different areas under Chattogram City Corporation (Tk 2.60 billion) and modernisation of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment and setting up of 13 district offices (Tk 2.26 billion).
The remaining four projects are rehabilitation of dilapidated postal offices under the postal department, 2nd phase, 1st Revised, involving Tk 2.25 billion, development and extension of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Cox's Bazar, 2nd phase, (Tk 1.26 billion), construction of nine bridges at Brahmanbaria (Tk 1.20 billion) and upgrading of Laksam (Binoyghar)-Baiyara Bazar-Omarganj-Nangolkot district highway (Tk 614.5 million).
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