B Mirror Report: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 13 development projects involving a total cost of Tk 16,207.55 crore.

Of the total allocation, Tk 10,600.80 crore will come from government funds, Tk 4,081.85 crore from project loans and Tk 1,524.91 crore from the implementing organisations’ own funds.

The approvals were given at an ECNEC meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Of the 13 projects, 10 are new, two are revised and one involves an extension of the project period.

The Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry received the highest number of approvals, with seven projects.

These include projects to improve road infrastructure and drainage in 18 wards across five new regions of Dhaka South City Corporation, upgrade infrastructure and rehabilitate damaged roads in Rangpur City Corporation, and construct roads, drains and footpaths in zones 1 to 8 of Gazipur City Corporation.

Another approved project aims to develop women’s skills and create entrepreneurs through cooperatives. The ECNEC also approved the second revision of the second phase of a project for rural infrastructure development in Sirajganj, Bogura and Naogaon districts and important urban infrastructure development.

Several major transport projects were also approved. These include the third revision of a project to procure 35 commercial and eight auxiliary vessels for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and construct two new slipways.

A project to procure 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives for Bangladesh Railway was also approved.

The ECNEC further approved the second revision of projects for constructing the Second Karatoya Bridge at the 15th kilometre of the Bhajanpur-Atorkhari-Mayanaguri-Amtali-Mirgarh-Panchagarh road and constructing the Thanchi-Rimakri-Madak-Likri road.

In the power and energy sector, a project was approved to construct a 442-megawatt peak solar power plant in Rampal.

The meeting also approved a project to renovate, modernise and make operational the chancery building purchased by Bangladesh in Paris, France.

The meeting was also informed about a previously approved project costing less than Tk 50 crore for re-excavating the Nandahar, Harabati, Nungola and Kharoya rivers and canals in Joypurhat district.