The government approved on Tuesday the installation of Bangladesh-India third cross-border power transmission line project along with nine other projects at a total cost of Tk 33.33 billion.
Presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the electricity transmission line project at a cost of Tk 1.89 billion.
Emerging from the meeting, Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal said the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) will install the second cross-border gridline from Bheramara to Baharampur of India to transmit 500 megawatts (MW) of power daily.
The project will be financed by the Indian government, as it has already confirmed US$ 2.0 billion line of credit (LoC).
In 2013, PGCB constructed the first cross-border line between Bheramara and Baharampur to import power from India. The state-owned company has also installed another cross-border gridline between Comilla and Tripura.
PGCB will install the Bheramara-Baharampur second 400 kilovolt (kv) high-voltage double-circuit transmission line for importing 500 MW more electricity from India, according to officials.
Currently, Bangladesh imports 500 MW of power everyday from India through the first 400 kv transmission gridline.
According to PGCB, it will set up the second 40-km double-circuit line between Bheramara and Baharampur by December 2018.
ECNEC endorsed other projects - Setting up of Sheikh Hasina Cantonment in Barisal region at a cost of Tk 16.99 billion, Dredging at Mongla Port outer channel at Tk 7.12 billion, Widening and strengthening of Shalikha (Magura)-Arpara-Kaliganj (Jhenaidah) Road at Tk 1.09 billion, Building of Goma Bridge on Rangamati River on Barisal-Laxmipasha-Dumki Road at Tk 576.2 million, and Small-scale irrigation development at greater Khulna and Jessore districts at Tk 1.27 billion.
Besides, it also approved Small-scale irrigation development at greater Bogra and Dinajpur districts at a cost of Tk 899.4 million, Remaining work of National Art Gallery expansion, National Anthem and Theatrical Art Centre project at Tk 1.38 billion, and Setting up of Jhenaidah Textile Engineering College (third revision) project at Tk 1.19 billion.
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