ECNEC approves mega project for Bangladesh Railway

The total length of the two dual gauge rail tracks would be 144 kilometers while another 40-kilometer dual gauge rail track would be constructed for loop and sidings lines.

BR is entrusted with implementing the project by June 2020 involving Taka 6,504.55 crore.

The approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with the ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, told reporters that the ECNEC today approved a total of eight development projects including the rail track project with an
outlay of Taka 10,625 crore.

"Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 2,529 crore from the national exchequer while Taka 5,478 crore will come as project assistance and the organization concerned would contribute Taka 2,618 crore from own fund," he added.

State Minister for Finance and Planning M A Mannan was present at the briefing.

The Planning Minister said the entire Dhaka- Chittagong rail line would turn into double dual gauge lines facilitating transportation of goods and passengers once the work for Akhaura- Laksam section double dual gauge line is completed.

"The government is aiming to enhance connectivity with the neighboring countries where Dhaka-Chittagong Rail line would soon turn into a main corridor of the Trans-Asian Railway," added
Kamal.

He also said the government is now prioritizing on railways and waterways for transportation of goods while on roads and railways for carrying passengers.

Of the total project cost of Taka 6,504 crore for the Dual Gauge Rail Line project, the government will provide Taka 1,026 crore, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide Taka 5,477 crore.

The ECNEC meeting approved the 'Pre-Payment Metering Project for NOCS Division under DPDC' project with Taka 224 crore under which pre-payment metering would be introduced in five areas of
Dhaka and Narayanganj.

Under the project, the dwellers of Khilgaon, Tejgaon, Kajla, Kamrangirchar and Swamibagh would be able to use electricity as per their need procuring smart-card based single or three-phase pre-payment meter.

The Planning Minister said pre-payment meter would be gradually installed throughout the country.

The day's ECNEC meeting gave nod to another project titled "Maheshkhali-Anowara Gas Transmission Pipeline" with Taka 981 crore under which 91 kilometer transmission pipeline with a diameter of 30 inch would be set up from Maheshkhali to Anowara to ensure about 500 million cubic feet gas per day to various power plants and fertilizer factories and other industries.

Imported LNG would be supplied through this gas pipeline while work is on to set up LNG terminal at the deep sea port in Maheshkhali.

The ECNEC meeting approved the 'Establishment of computer and language training labs in educational institutions of 64 districts' with Taka 298.98 crore under which some 2,000 labs would be established at the countrywide 2,000 educational institutions alongside the existing 3,544 computer labs. The project would be completed by December 2016.

Each one of the computer lab would comprise at least 17 laptops, one printer, one scanner, one LED multimedia projector, one headphone and one 3G pocket router.

The other projects approved in the meeting are 'Construction of Bibiyana-Dhanua Gas Transmission Pipeline', 2nd revised with Tk 1,709.77 crore, construction of important nine bridges with Tk 305.61 crore, temple-based child and mass education programs 4th phase with Tk 99.31 crore, providing stipend to Degree (Pass) and equivalent level students, 1st revised, with Tk 501.26 crore.

Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission members and concerned secretaries were present in the meeting.