The government will set up Akhaura-Laksham dual-gauge railway track at a cost of Tk6,504 crore in next five years for carrying passengers and cargoes smoothly.
The existing 72-kilometer (km) Akhaura-Laksham metre-gauge railway line will also be converted into to a dual-gauge with additional 40-km dual-gauge establishing for loop and sidings line.
Of the total cost, Tk5,477 crore will come from Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank as loan and the rest from public exchequer.
The project titled Construction of Dual Gauge Double Rail Line and Conversion of Existing Rail Line into Dual Gauge between Akhaura and Laksam was taken after the Prime Minister recently announced that the country will see no more meter-gauge rail line.
It was one of the eight projects of Tk10,625 crore approved by a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC conference room yesterday, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Of the eight projects, six are new and two revised ones.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said once this project was completed by 2020, and Tangi-Bhairab Bazar and Laksam-Chinki Astana Section will be completed by 2015, the entire Dhaka-Chittagong railway line will be converted into dual-gauge.
“This will make transportation of goods and passengers easier and faster from Dhaka to Chittagong that will also be a prime corridor for trans-Asian railway and both local and foreign investors will be attracted,” he said.
Of the total eight project costs, the government will provide Tk2,502 crore, Tk2,618 crore from the respective organisations’ own fund and Tk5,478 crore from foreign aid.
Projects including construction of Moheskhali-Anowara Gas Transmission Pipeline, Bibiyana-Dhanua Gas Transmission Pipeline (2nd revised) and nine-bridge construction projects got approval.
Computer lab project
The meeting approved a project of expanding computer education and internet connection across the country aiming at spreading freelancing and outsourcing profession in the country.
The project costing Tk299 crore will be implemented by 2016 from the government’s own fund. Around 2,000 computer labs will be set up in the same number of educational institutions across the country.
One computer lab will consists of at least 17 laptops, one printer, one scanner, one LED multi-media projector, one headphone and a 3G pocket router.
Pre-paid electricity meter
Another Tk224 crore project tilted pre-paid metering project for five NOCS division under Dhaka Power and Distribution Company (DPDC) got Ecnec approval.
The pre-paid meters will be launched in five areas – Khilgaon, Tejgaon, Kazla, Kamrangirchar and Swamibag. The project will be completed by 2017 and the government plans to bring all electricity subscribers of the country under the system, which will help cut use of electricity and load shedding as well.
To implement the project, some Tk189 crore will come from government exchequer and Tk35 crore from the implementing agency.