The government has approved a Tk 6.58 billion project to install 0.85 million pre-paid meters in Dhaka city.
The Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) will implement the project.
Presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday endorsed the project in Dhaka along with eight other projects at a total cost of Tk 30.88 billion.
This was disclosed by Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
He said the DPDC will install the pre-paid meters in its areas at Ramna, Jigatola, Dhanmondi, Adabor,Poribagh, Kakrail, Banoshri, Moghbazar, Shyamoli, Kamrangirchar, Banglabazar, Narinda, Postogola and Demra in Dhaka city.
Fatullah, Shitalakhya, and Siddhirganj upazila under Narayanganj district will also have such meters.
According to the project deadline, the meters are expected to be installed by June 2021.
Mr Kamal said the pre-paid meters are expected to check misuse of electricity and boost the government's revenue income.
The planning minister said a total of nine projects were approved at the ECNEC meeting involving a total of Tk 30.88 billion.
"Out of the total cost, Tk 23.40 billion will come from the government's own exchequer, Tk 505.4 million from the implementing agencies' own funds while the remaining Tk 6.98 billion from the external resources as project assistance," he said.
The ECNEC approved the "Improvement of livelihood of marginal communities programme" at Tk 8.26 billion under which the government will build houses for some 20,000 ultra-poor families in city corporations and municipal areas.
Mr Kamal said Britain's Department for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme would provide about Tk 6.98 billion funds as grants, while the government fund will make up the rest.
The project will be implemented by the Local Government Division by February 2023.
According to the project proposal, each of some 5,000 ultra-poor families will be given a two-room flat free of cost, while 15,000 ultra-poor families will be given interest-free long term housing loans under the community housing development fund.
The 20,000 families will be provided with basic services like water supply, sanitation, drainage and approach road facilities under the project.
Nabinagar-Ashuganj road development project at Tk 4.21 billion, upgrading Bhaluka-Gafargaon-Hossainpur road into due standard and width at Tk 2.18 billion, and upgrading Tangail-Delduar road, Kortia-Basail road and Delduar-Elasin portion of Pakulla-Delduar-Elasin road at Tk1.41 billion are among the projects endorsed by ECNEC.
Other projects include the establishment of integrated educational information management system (IEIMS) at Tk 3.13 billion, increasing the retention capacity of Data Centre of Bangladesh Police at Tk 1.55 billion and improving the connecting road of Sheikh Hasina Bridge on the Mahananda River under Chapai Nawabganj municipality project at Tk 2.55 billion.
Ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries were present at the ECNEC meeting.
