The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 10 development projects involving Tk 69 billion (Tk 6,967 crore), including modernization of 21 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives of Bangladesh Railway (BR).
The approval came at the weekly meeting of the ECNEC held at the NEC Conference Room in city’s Sher-e-Banglanagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister MA Mannan, after the meeting, briefed newsmen about the outcome of the meeting. He said of the total project cost of Tk 69 billion, the government would provide Tk 66 billion (Tk 6,686 crore) from the national exchequer while the organisations concerned would contribute Tk 2.41 billion (Tk 241.52 crore) and the remaining Tk 395 million (Tk 39.58 crore) would come as project assistance.
He said 21 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives of Bangladesh Railway would be modernized through refurbishment, which would increase their efficiency to offer better services.
The locomotives modernisation project is due to be implemented by June 2022 at a cost of Tk 2.42 billion.
Besides, Mannan referred to directives given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting and said she asked the authorities concerned to construct government offices in a comprehensive manner across the country.
The Prime Minister, he said, also ordered the officials to construct the government buildings following the same design at the district level, dividing those in small, medium and big categories.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: widening of Bamondanga(Gaibandha)-Shathibari-Aftabganj district highway project, widening road and construction of drain and footpath in Gazipur City Corporation, construction of high-rise building on Dhaka officers’ club premises, construction of multi-storied government office building in Manikganj, further development of Bangabandhu national stadium, reconstruction of the rehabilitation centre of destitute children at Kunabari in Gazipur, strengthening efficiency of Dhaka Metropolitan Police for tackling terrorism, greater Faridpur irrigation area development and upgradation and expansion of power distribution of west zone, reports BSS.