TK 700cr for Rangpur division infrastructure dev gets nod
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a TK 700 crore project aiming to develop the socio-economic condition of the people of Rangpur division through rural infrastructural development.
The approval was given at Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room at city’s Shere-e-Bangla Nagar with Prime Minister and Ecnec chairperson Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam informed that a total of 15 projects with an aggregate outlay of TK 4,796 crore were approved in the meeting. “Of the total cost, TK 3,417 crore will come from the national exchequer while the remaining TK 1,379 crore in project assistance.”
Planning Ministry sources said the project, ‘Rangpur Division Rural Infrastructure Development’ includes development of 742-km upazila, union and rural road, construction of 1300 metre of bridges and culverts, widening and maintenance of 430 kilometres of road and development of 20 local markets.
The project, also involving rural poor women in 10,800 kilometers of road maintenance work, will begin in October 2013 and complete by June, 2018.
Ecnec approved another project to establish a one and a half-km bridge over the Teesta River with TK 630 crore which would help create direct road communication network between Gaibandha and Kurigram districts.
The bridge would reduce the distance between Dhaka and Kurigram by 80 kilometers and help one million people of Chilmari, Ulipur. Rajarhat and Kurigram Sadar upazila to travel to Dhaka avoiding Rangpur divisional city.
The cost of the 4-year project stands at Tk 630 crore of which TK 523 crore will come from the Saudi Development Fund (SFD).
Ecnec also gave nod to the revision of two projects, one of which having the title ‘Skills and Training Enhancement Project’ involving Tk 850 crore and aiming at increased employment generation through improvement of the country’s technical education.
Another one, titled ‘Revitalisation of Community Health Care Initiatives in Bangladesh Project involving a cost of TK 1,638 crore, has the goal of strengthening the activities of the existing 10,624 community clinics as well as establishing 3,138 more new community clinics in the country.
The other projects approved at the meeting are: ‘Establishment of Gournadi Textile Institute Project (Tk 62 crore-GoB); Establishment of Gopalgonj Textile Engineering College Project (Tk 8 crore-GoB); Computer training for women at district level project (TK 53 crore-GoB); Excavation of Chandana-Barasia River Project (TK 59 crore-GoB); Modernisation of military fund project (TK 84 crore-GoB); Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Capacity Building (2nd revised) Project (TK 165 crore, GoB-81 crore, PA-84 crore); Development of launch ghat and way side ghat in rural areas of Bangladesh (TK 86 crore-GoB); ‘Construction of Link Road from Dhaka Trunk Road to Baijid Bostami Road, including loop road at the outer periphery of AUW (Asian University of Women) Project’ (TK 172 crore-GoB); ‘Construction of ten-storey office building for NSI with 20-storey foundation and two basement project (TK 88 crore-GoB) and ‘Extension of Aviation Fuel (jet. A-1) Hydrant System at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka (1st Revised) Project’ (Tk 54 crore-GoB).
Ecnec members, including Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister AK Khandker, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, members of the Planning Commission and secretaries and officials concerned were present at the meeting.
Source: UNB Connect
