Ecnec clears six projects involving Tk 7,312 cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved six projects involving Tk 7,312 crore, including a Tk 5,950-crore scheme to expand Dhaka and Western Zone Transmission Grid to different upazilas in 17 districts of Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions.

The approval came from the weekly Ecnec meeting held at NEC conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

"Today's Ecnec meeting cleared six projects involving Tk 7,312.55 crore," said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Of the total cost, Tk 2,778.56 crore will come from government fund, while Tk 321.69 crore from the own fund of organisation concerned (PGCB) and Tk 4,212.30 crore from foreign sources as project loan, he said.

Among the approved projects, five are new and one is a revised one, which is Construction of Link Road from Natore Road (RUET) to Rajshahi Bypass (2nd revised) involving TK 206.64 crore.

According to the Planning Commission factsheet, the Dhaka and Western Zone Transmission Grid Expansion Project will be implemented by June 2024 for meeting the growing electricity demand through enhancing capacity and strengthening the existing transmission infrastructure.

Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) will implement the project with an estimated cost of Tk 5949.95 crore in different upazilas of 17 districts – Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Gopalganj, Pirojpur, Bhola, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Jashore, Khulna, Kushtia, Meherpur and Satkhira.

Of the cost, Tk 4,212.30 crore will come from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as project loan, while Tk 1415.96 crore from the national exchequer and Tk 321.69 crore from the own fund of PGCB.

The rest four projects were placed for the clearance of Ecnec to improve highways in four places.

Those are Improvement, Width Expansion and Straightening of Magura-Narail Regional Highway involving with Tk 723.97 crore; Improvement of Bogura-Sariakandia district Highway and Construction of Ariarghat Bridge over Bangali River with Tk 240.97 crore; Upgrading Palbari-Dartana-Manihar-Murali National Highway (Jashore) into four-lane with Tk 131.17 crore; and Improvement and Width Expansion of Feni (Masterpara)-Alokdia-Valukia-Laskarhat-Chhagalnaiya (Shantirhat) District Highway with Tk 59.85 crore.