ECNEC approves construction of small bridges and culverts on rural roads

The approval was given at the 22nd ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will implement the projects by June 2019 with the entire project cost to come from the national exchequer.

He said a total of 12 projects were approved today involving an estimated cost of Tk 6650.75 crore. "Of the total project cost, Tk 5,694.56 crore will come from the state coffer while the rest Tk 956.1 crore as project assistance," Kamal added.

Of the approved 12 projects, seven are new while five revised ones, he said.

The minister said some 12,993 small bridges and culverts will be built on earth roads in 489 upazilas alongside Tejgaon development circle in 64 districts.

Officials at the Planning Commission said similar project is under implementation for constructing 4,928 bridges and culverts across the country in 490 upazilas except the three CHT districts, while another project is under implementation for constructing 840 bridges and culverts in 25 upazilas of the three CHT districts.

According to the officials, the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) has already made mid-term evaluation of the ongoing projects while a feasibility study has also been completed for undertaking this new project.

The Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting asked the authorities concerned to take steps so that there remains no bamboo bridge in the country.

Asked whether this rural bridge and culvert construction project got approval ahead of the countrywide Union Parishad polls, Mustafa Kamal said this is a nationally important project and such project should not stop considering polls as elections in various tiers are usually held throughout the year.

The Ecnec meeting also gave nod to the 'Upazila Operations and Development' project with Tk 1059.66 crore in a bid to ensure infrastructural development and improve the standards of services through local government institutions.

The Local Government Division will implement the project by June, 2021 in 100 upazilas with project assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Under the project, the capacity of the upazila parishads would be enhanced to conduct necessary development activities in the respective upazilas through providing additional funds.

The other projects approved at the meeting are Rural infrastructural development of greater Rajshahi district project (Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj with Tk 398.52 crore, establishment of four textile institutes, 2nd revised with Tk 275.73 crore, support to Joydevpur-Debgram-Bhulta-Modonpur road (Dhaka bypass) PPP project with Tk 236.50 crore, road widening and development from Bhurghata-Barisal-Lebukhali bridge of national highway N-8 with Tk 105.76 crore, construction of a multi-storey building for Madaripur government offices with Tk 59.81 crore, establishment of national science and technology complex (1st revised) with Tk 229.89 crore, establishment of national laboratory medicine and referral center (2nd revised) with Tk 194.32 crore, establishment of Barisal university (2nd revised) with Tk 151.88 crore, completing the unfinished works of Lalkuthi maternal and child health care training institute in city's Mirpur with Tk 41.92 crore and establishment of seed growing farms at southern coastal region (Barisal and Patuakhali) (2nd revised) with Tk 212.41 crore.

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