The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved nine projects, including the development of an elevated expressway in Chittagong, worth a total of Tk6,393.18 crore.
The projects were approved at an Ecnec meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Of the cost, Tk6,192.87 crore will be provided by the national exchequer, Tk57.03 crore by the implementing organisations and Tk430.42 crore from project assistance.
Most of the projects are due to be complete by 2020.
Speaking at a press briefing following the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the elevated expressway would be built from the Lalkhan Bazar area to the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong.
The expressway, to be built at the cost of Tk3,250.84 crore, will make communication between the city area and the southern part of Chittagong, he added.
Other projects include a Tk579.95-crore project to improve reliability and efficiency of the power system in the country, to be implemented at 20 upazilas in six divisions.
One project, worth Tk466.59 crore, will be implemented to preserve and develop the rivers in border areas, and another project worth Tk500.28 crore will be implemented to dredge several major rivers in Narsingdi district.
The river projects are aimed at preventing land erosion induced by rainfall and increasing the security of people living near the rivers.
However, the project to relocate Jagannath University to Keraniganj has yet to meet the approval of the prime minister, the planning minister said at the press briefing.
He said the prime minister was concerned that the current allocated land is not sufficient for the accommodation and development of the new campus, and asked the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission and the Jagannath University authorities to search for a larger, better location for the university in Keraniganj.
She directed the authorities concerned to acquire the necessary lands in seven days.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
