BSS, Rajshahi :
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has been implementing a mega project for improving living and livelihood condition of rural population through overall need-based infrastructure development in the region. Additional Chief Engineer Abdul Maleque Sarker of LGED here today said the ‘Rajshahi Division Rural Infrastructure Development Project (Excluding Sirajganj District)’ is being implemented at an estimated cost of Tk 2,080.40crore.
The project is covering 58 upazilas in Pabna, Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Bogra and Joypurhat districts. Engineer Maleque Sarker said rural people’s accessibility to village market, health centre, educational and other service-delivery institutions will be enhanced after implementation of the project by June 2022.
He said 172.9 kilometers of upazila roads with 140-meter bridges, 367.76 kilometers of Union roads with 636-meter bridges and 1,156 kilometers of village roads, including 762-meter bridges, will be constructed under the project.
“We will also construct 46 growth centres, 250-meter school connecting roads, 396.83-meter culverts and 33.28-kilometer RCC roads,” Engineer Maleque Sarker said, adding that 327.59-kilometer roads will be widened and 171.07- kilometer village roads and 240.45-kilometer upazila roads will be repaired. Moreover, infrastructure development of different rural markets will be ensured, he also said. The improved infrastructures will reduce transport cost, develop marketing system, increase production and marketing facilities of agricultural products, which will contribute a lot to socioeconomic development in the region, he added. Engineer Maleque continued that a tree plantation programme will be carried out along the roads to help reduce carbon emission at a substantial level to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change in the vast Barind tract.
The scheme of rural infrastructure development and creation of short- and long-term employment opportunities in the farm and non-farm sectors will reduce poverty by involving rural people in various economic and social activities. “We are very much hopeful about the project that will infuse dynamism into rural socio-economic activities together with bringing a positive change in livelihoods of grassroots people,” said Ataur Rahman, Chairman of Badhair Union Parishad under Tanore Upazila.
