ECNEC approves 12 projects worth Tk 1.69 lakh crore

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved 12 development projects involving a total estimated cost of Tk 1,68,780.40 crore.

The projects were approved at a meeting of the ECNEC held at the Secretariat in the morning, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.

State Minister for Planning Md. Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki disclosed the details at a press briefing at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar after the meeting.

Of the total project cost, Tk 48,256.30 crore will come from government funds, Tk 1,20,466.39 crore from project loans and Tk 57.71 crore from agencies’ own funds.

Of the 12 projects approved by the ECNEC, seven are new while five are revised projects.
Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved three metro rail projects.

Of the three projects, two are revised cost proposals for the Japan-funded MRT Line-1 (Airport-Kamalapur) and MRT Line-5 Northern (Hemayetpur-Bhatara) projects. The third is the MRT Line-5 Southern (Gabtoli-Dasherkandi) project, which will be jointly financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and South Korea. 

Major projects include

*    MRT Line-1 (Airport-Kamalapur) cost jumps to Tk 1,14,394.89 crore
*    MRT Line-5 Northern (Hemayetpur-Bhatara) revised to Tk 89,848.36 crore 
*    MRT Line-5 Southern (Gabtoli-Dasherkandi) set at Tk 45,503 crore

Initially, only the MRT Line-5 Southern project was scheduled to be placed on the main agenda of the ECNEC meeting. Later, the revised proposals for the two Japan-funded projects were also included for approval.

The Japan-funded MRT Line-1, covering 31.24 kilometres, has an estimated revised cost of Tk 1,14,394.89 crore. The 20-kilometre MRT Line-5 Northern project has been revised to Tk 89,848.36 crore.

The MRT Line-5 Southern project, stretching 17.20 kilometres from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi, will include 13.10 kilometres of underground section. Its estimated cost has been set at Tk 45,503 crore.

The revised cost of MRT Line-1 has increased by 117.64 percent, according to the project proposal. The project is targeted for completion by 2033.

One of the key objectives of the MRT Line-1 project is to develop and operate a metro rail corridor connecting the Airport and Kamalapur areas of the capital.

Meanwhile, implementation of the MRT Line-5 Southern project is expected to begin soon, with most preparations reportedly completed.

The 17.20-kilometre Line-5 Southern route will run from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi. The section through Hatirjheel will be underground, while the section from Aftabnagar onwards will be elevated.

Of the Tk 45,503 crore estimated cost of the MRT Line-5 Southern project, the government will provide Tk 15,197 crore. The remaining Tk 30,306 crore will be jointly financed by the ADB and the South Korean government's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

The project is expected to improve public transport connectivity across several densely populated areas of Dhaka and expand the city's mass rapid transit network.

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry received the highest number of approvals, with five projects.

These include the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route, Upgrading District Highways in the Rajshahi Road Zone to Appropriate Standards and Widths, Upgrading District Highways in the Chattogram Road Zone to Appropriate Standards and Widths (Phase-III), Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Northern Route (1st Revision) and Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-1) (1st Revision).

Two projects under the Railway Ministry were also approved. These are the Introduction of Electric Traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur Section and Construction of a New Dual-Gauge Railway Line from Bogura to Sirajganj (1st Revision).

The Defence Ministry's projects include Establishment of Barishal Cantonment (Phase-II) and Construction of Housing Facilities for Naval Personnel and Other Infrastructure in the Khulna Naval Area.

The ECNEC also approved the Improvement of Working Conditions and Social Protection for Workers in the Textile and Leather Sectors, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Besides, the committee approved the Khulna Sewerage System Development Project (1st Revision) and Upgradation and Expansion of Electricity Distribution System in the Monpura Island Area (1st Revision).

Meanwhile, 15 projects costing less than Tk 50 crore were presented at the ECNEC meeting for information. As the estimated costs of these projects are below Tk 50 crore, they were approved by the Planning Minister under his delegated authority.

The projects include Land Management Automation (2nd Revision), Construction of the National Headquarters of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (1st Revision), Establishment of Green Belt at Bhasan Char and Afforestation in Rohingya-affected Areas of Cox's Bazar (1st Revision), Strengthening Research, Conservation and Development of Indigenous Chicken, and Establishment of Telecommunication Networks in Economic Zones (Phase-I) (1st Revision).

Other projects approved by the Planning Minister include Replacement of Vulnerable Bailey and Other Bridges in the Rangpur Zone (1st Revision), Construction of the 5th to 10th Floors of the RDA Building, Construction of a Quarter Guard for Enhancing the Capacity of SI&T at Jalalabad Cantonment, and Preparation of a 3D Model for Flood Forecasting in Sylhet Division (1st Revision).

The meeting was also informed about projects for infrastructure development at Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College and Khulna Military Collegiate School, Strengthening Social Protection (SSPRIT) (1st Revision), Development of Barguna and Dinajpur District Stadiums, and Drilling of Sylhet-10 Exploration Well (2nd Revision).