663
Published on May 5, 2015
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved the construction of "Khan Jahan Ali Airport" project involving Taka 545 crore.
The approval came from the 26th meeting of the ECNEC in the current fiscal held at the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Banglanagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal highlighted how the airport can help to expand the trade and commerce as well as tourism in greater Khulna.
He said: "Establishment of fast communication network would be needed in this greater Khulna region to expand trade and commerce centering the Mongla Port, EPZ, Shrimp industry and Rampal Power Plant."
The Planning Minister informed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is entrusted with implementing the project by June, 2018 while the government will provide Taka 490 crore and the CAA will contribute the remaining Taka 54 crore.
Under the project, there will be land acquisition of 163 hectares, 7,20,173 cubic meters land development, construction of 2,04,153 square meters runway and taxiway alongside construction of 18,564 square meters residential building.
Mustafa Kamal said the ECNEC approved a total of 10 development projects including the airport with the outlay of Taka 1,910 crore. "Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 1,795 crore from the national exchequer while the remaining Taka 114 crore will come from organisation's own fund," he added.
Of the approved 10 projects, eight are new schemes while two are revised projects.
Since the distance of proposed Khan Jahan Ali airport in Khulna would be 20 kilometers both from Khulna town and Mongla Port, there would be further expansion of tourism in the region centering the world's largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans, Shat Gombuj Masjid (sixty dome mosque) and the mazar of Khan Jahan Ali.
Besides, once the work for setting up airport is completed, it would be possible to distribute fast relief items in the coastal areas in case of any natural disaster.
The day's ECNEC meeting gave nod to another project titled "Construction and improvement of Roads, Drains and footpaths of Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara diplomatic areas" with Taka 200 crore to be implemented by the Dhaka North City Corporation under the LGD by June 2017.
The ECNEC meeting approved another project "construction of six-lane flyover at Mohipal" in Feni district with Taka 158 crore to be implemented by the roads and highways department by June, 2018.
The other projects approved in the meeting are construction of 478.171 meter PC Girder Bridge on Chotto Feni River at the 6th Kilometer on Sonagazi-Olamabazar-Chardarbeshpur-Companyganj road with Tk 73.30 crore, development of public libraries in six districts with Tk 49.53 crore, renovation, repair and maintenance of 15 district Shilpakala Academies with Tk 40.56 crore, Rural infrastructure development project: Chittagong Hill Tracts 2nd phase with Tk 380 crore, Expansion of Aquaculture Technology Services up to union level Phase 2 with Tk 242.28 crore, Modernization of Vaccine production technology and extension of laboratory facilities (MVPT) (2nd revised) with Tk 145.98 crore and Buffalo Development Project (Component A and B) with Tk 75.91 crore.
Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting. Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.
Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol
This work is copyrighted and authorized by the Bangladesh Awami League. You may download, display, print and re-produce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice)for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organization.
