ECNEC approves 'Padma Bridge Rail Link' project

The rail link would go through Dhaka-Gandaria-Mawa-Padma Bridge-Bhanga Junction as well as also connect Rupdia station and Singia station via Bhanga Junction and Padmabila Junction.

The approval came at the 29th meeting of the ECNEC in current fiscal held at the NEC conference room in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, briefed the newsmen about the outcome. He said the ECNEC today cleared a total of nine development projects, including Padma Bridge Rail Link, with an outlay of Taka 44,167 crore.

Of the total projects cost, the government would provide Taka 19,265 crore from the national exchequer while the organizations concerned would contribute Taka 152.24 crore from own fund and the remaining Taka 24,749 crore would come as project assistance," he said.

Talking about the rail link project, the planning minister said a total of 172 kilometers new rail track would be installed including 3 kilometer double-track in Dhaka-Gandaria section under the project.

"Travel distances between Dhaka-Jessore, Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Darshana would come down to 184.72 kilometers, 212.05 kilometers and 44.24 kilometers respectively after implementation of the project," he said.

Kamal said Chinese government would supply Taka 24.749 crore as loan and the remaining expenditure would be borne by the government.

Rail Division is entrusted to implement the project by 2022.

Apart from the rail link project, the ECNEC also cleared four-lane road development project (Jatrabari intersection to Mawa via Iquria-Babubazar link road and separate lane for slow driven vehicle in Pachchar-Bhanga section) involving Taka 6,252 crore.

The other projects approved by the ECNEC are: widening of national highway in Magura's Ramnagar intersection to Abalpur (Taka 91.94 crore), development of power distribution system in Sylhet division (Taka 890.85 crore), cyclone shelter center construction in coastal and cyclone prone areas, phase-II (Taka 533.16 crore), animal disease prevention and control, phase-II, strengthening of research in horticulture based crops and technology expansion for filed level crops (Taka 70.56 crore), further infrastructure development of Khulna University (Taka 188.44 crore) and Bangladesh Betar's transmission center establishment (1000KW medium wave) (Taka 73.55 crore).

Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while members of planning commission and secretaries concerned were present.