Economic Reporter :
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Tuesday approved the conversion of Akhaura-Sylhet Meter Gauge Section of Bangladesh Railway into dual gauge with an estimated cost of Taka 16,104.44 crore.
The approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 7 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 18,191.38 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Taka 6,622.43 crore will come from the state exchequer while the rest of Taka 11,568.95 crore from project assistance,” he said.
All the approved 7 projects are new projects.
The Planning Minister said the conversion of the Akhaura-Sylhet Section Dual Gauge Conversion project will be implemented by June 2025 with Taka 10,654.36 crore project assistances from China on G to G basis.
Under the project, some 225 kilometer existing meter gauge railway track under the Akhaura-Sylhet section would be converted into 239.14 kilometer dual gauge track.
Besides, the other major project operations includes construction of 49 major and 237 minor bridges, signaling works at 22 stations, construction of 16690 square meter residential buildings, barrack and dormitory, and some 200.30 acres of land acquisition.
According to the Planning Commission, the Akhaura-Sylhet section is very important considering economic aspect, tourism and internal and regional connectivity.
The Planning Minister said that the implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) during the July-March period of the current fiscal year reached 47.24 percent with an expenditure of Taka 83,432 crore. The ADP implementation rate during the July-March period of the last fiscal year was 45.65 percent with an expenditure of Taka 71,940 crore.
Mannan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting has directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the government officials at the field-level remain in their job areas with their families so that they could give utmost concentration in their works.
Besides, she also renewed her directive to keep sufficient open space, veranda and ventilation system, fire extinguishing system and keeping ponds and water bodies nearby before setting up any government establishment, discouraging acquisition of arable land for project purpose, but if needed providing necessary compensation and ensuring rehabilitation of the affected people.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for continuing River dredging to maintain the navigability of those.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Tuesday approved the conversion of Akhaura-Sylhet Meter Gauge Section of Bangladesh Railway into dual gauge with an estimated cost of Taka 16,104.44 crore.
The approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 7 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 18,191.38 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Taka 6,622.43 crore will come from the state exchequer while the rest of Taka 11,568.95 crore from project assistance,” he said.
All the approved 7 projects are new projects.
The Planning Minister said the conversion of the Akhaura-Sylhet Section Dual Gauge Conversion project will be implemented by June 2025 with Taka 10,654.36 crore project assistances from China on G to G basis.
Under the project, some 225 kilometer existing meter gauge railway track under the Akhaura-Sylhet section would be converted into 239.14 kilometer dual gauge track.
Besides, the other major project operations includes construction of 49 major and 237 minor bridges, signaling works at 22 stations, construction of 16690 square meter residential buildings, barrack and dormitory, and some 200.30 acres of land acquisition.
According to the Planning Commission, the Akhaura-Sylhet section is very important considering economic aspect, tourism and internal and regional connectivity.
The Planning Minister said that the implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) during the July-March period of the current fiscal year reached 47.24 percent with an expenditure of Taka 83,432 crore. The ADP implementation rate during the July-March period of the last fiscal year was 45.65 percent with an expenditure of Taka 71,940 crore.
Mannan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting has directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the government officials at the field-level remain in their job areas with their families so that they could give utmost concentration in their works.
Besides, she also renewed her directive to keep sufficient open space, veranda and ventilation system, fire extinguishing system and keeping ponds and water bodies nearby before setting up any government establishment, discouraging acquisition of arable land for project purpose, but if needed providing necessary compensation and ensuring rehabilitation of the affected people.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for continuing River dredging to maintain the navigability of those.
