The government has launched a project to develop some 1557km roads in different districts under 10 zones aimed for safer road connectivity across the country.
Roads and Highways Department will implement the project titled “Development of district roads (Dhaka Zone, Mymensingh Zone, Chittagong Zone, Comilla Zone, Sylhet Zone, Khulna Zone, Barisal Zone, Gopalganj Zone, Rajshahi Zone and Rangpur Zone” involving Taka 996.66 crore.
Under the project, some RCC culverts, drains, RCC box culverts, RCC bridges and pavements, apart from road development, will be constructed.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved the project held at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Banglanagar with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, told newsmen the ECNEC approved a total of eight development projects, including the road development, with an outlay of Taka 1576.32 crore.
“Of the total cost, the government will provide Taka 1,560.82 crore from the national exchequer while the organization concerned will contribute Taka 15.50 crore from own fund,” he added.
Six projects, among the approved eight, are new while two are revised projects.
State Minister for Finance and Planning M A Mannan was present at the briefing.
The day’s ECNEC meeting approved another project titled “Protection of right embankment of the River Padma for protecting the “Kuthibari” of Biswa Kobi Rabindranath Tagore and the adjacent areas” with Taka 180.68 crore.
Bangladesh Water Development Board is entrusted to implement the project at Kumarkhali upazila under Kushtia district from May, 2015 to June, 2018.
The project aims at protecting some 3.72 km right side embankment of the River Padma to save the “Kuthibari” as well as Shilaidah Union Parishad and the surrounding agricultural lands, many government and private properties and establishments.
The other projects approved in the meeting are construction of Multistory building for BSCIC in the capial’s Tejgaon area with Taka 62 crore, construction of Rajshahi Jail Training Academy with Taka 73.42 crore, construction of some 25 circle ASP office cum residential buildings for Bangladesh Police with Taka 38.29 crore, introduction of tourism facilities at Parky and Patenga in Chittagong with Taka 49.61 crore, establishment of upazila livestock development center (ULDC), 3rd phase with Taka 131.15 crore and establishment of fertilizer testing and research center with Taka 44.51 crore.
