The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved six projects involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 7,018.73 crore.
The approval came from a meeting of the ECNEC with its chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official Ganobaban residence while ministers, state ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC conference room in capital Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Out of the total estimated cost of Taka 7,018.73 crore against six projects, Taka 4,362.63 crore will come from the government exchequer, Taka 269.62 crore from the concerned organization's own fund while the rest Taka 2,386.48 crore as project assistance.
Out of the approved six projects, five are new while one is a revised project.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Planning Minister said that the government remains very cautious while undertaking projects considering the global context. "We're now processing those projects which are welfare oriented and considered as very important ones."
He said that the 'Recovering and Restoration of Canals and Creation of Aesthetic Environment' project for developing four canals under Dhaka South city was approved at the meeting with an estimated cost of Taka 898.73 crore.
Out of the total project cost, Taka 629.11 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh, Taka 269.62 crore from the own fund of the city corporation. This project will be implemented by June 2026.
Commenting on the project, Mannan said that through the implementation of this project, the issue of water logging in the city would be addressed side by side the city dwellers would get a clean metropolis to live in.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: First revision of the Ghorasal Polash Urea Fertilizer Project with an additional cost of Taka 5,039.30 crore, 'Simanto Hostel Complex Bhaban Construction' (in Chattogram) with Taka 59.14 crore; 'Improving the reliability and safety on National Highways Corridors of Bangladesh by Introduction of Intelligent Transport System (ITS)' (in Keraniganj and Srinagar Upazilas of Munshiganj) with Taka 122.03 crore; 'Upgrading the road from Ghonapara to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's mausoleum (including Sheikh Lutfar Rahman Bridge approach) to proper standard and width' with Taka 347.04 crore; and 'River bank protection to prevent Padma River erosion in Bhedarganj Upazila of Shariatpur District' with Taka 552.49 crore.
Source: BSS