METRO RAIL ECNEC approves two projects worth Tk 93,800cr
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on Tuesday approved another two metro rail projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 93,800 crore in a bid to address the traffic congestion in the capital and infuse more dynamism in the mass transportation system.
The approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC chairperson and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, planning minister MA Mannan said that a total of 10 projects were approved involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 1,00,025.23 crore.
‘Of the total project cost, Tk 30,466.02 crore will be provided from the government fund, Tk 515.84 crore from the concerned organisations’ own fund while the rest of Tk 69,043.37 crore from project assistance,’ he added
The planning minister said that the Mass Rapid Transport Line 1 and 5 would be implemented with an estimated cost of Tk 93,800 crore to tackle the traffic congestion.
Of the total cost of the two metro rail projects, Tk 25,232.60 crore will come from the state exchequer including grant amount while Tk 68,567.32 crore will be available as project assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited will implement both the projects.
The planning minister said that the ECNEC meeting was informed that the work for the two metro line projects would be completed within the stipulated timeframe and estimated cost.
According to the Planning Commission, the work for MRT Line 1 Project will be completed by December 2026 with an estimated cost of Tk 52,561.43 crore. Of the amount, Tk 13,111.11 crore will come from the Government of Bangladesh portion while the rest of Tk 39,450.32 crore will come as project assistance from JICA.
Out of the 31.24 kilometer MRT Line 1, around 16.21 kilometres would be underground from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur while around 11.36 kilometres from Kuril to Purbachal Depot would be elevated. Besides, there will be 3.65 kilometres underground transition line from Natun Bazar to Kuril.
On the other hand, the MRT Line 5 has been divided into two routes- northern and southern. The total cost for the MRT Line 5 project has been estimated at Tk 41,238.54 crore of which Tk 12,121.49 crore will come from the state exchequer and grants while Tk 29,117 crore as project assistance from JICA.
The length of the northern route is 20 kilometres of which 6.50 kilometres would be elevated from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar while 13.50 kilometres from Aminbazar to Bhatara would be underground. This project is expected to be completed by December 2028.
The MRT Line 5 would start from Hemayetpur and end at Vatara via Aminbazar, Gabtoli, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Kochukhet, Banani, Gulshan-1, and Natunbazar.
The government is currently constructing the MRT Line 6 project from Diabari of Uttara to Motijheel.
Revealing the implementation status of the Annual Development Programme during the July-September period of the current fiscal year, Mannan said the executing agencies could spend 8.06 percent of the ADP allocation with an expenditure of Tk 17,344 crore.
The ADP implementation rate during the July-September period of the last fiscal year was 8.25 percent with an expenditure of Tk 14,927 crore.
The planning minister said prime minister Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to keep provision of road and rail in the MRT system in future side by side not affecting the beauty of Hatirjheel during the implementation of the MRT Line 1 project.
Answering to a question, the planning minister said he has already asked the IMED to strictly monitor the price of various items under various components of different development projects.
The other projects approved in the meeting are upgrading Begumganj-Sonapur portion of Feni-Noakhali National Highway to four-lane, 1st revised with Tk 1,485.38 crore, upgrading Domar-Chilahati-Daolaganj, Domar-Jhaldhaka and Jhaldakha-Bhadurdargah-Dimla district highway to due standard and width with Tk 421.05 crore, upgrading Kishoreganj-Karimganj-Chamraghat district highway to due standard and construction of Choina-Jashodol-Chouddashata bazaar with Tk 731.32 crore.
The ECNEC also approved more projects including infrastructural development of Dhaka South City Corporation ( 2nd revised) with Tk 1,719.45 crore, Construction of multi-storied residential flats for the government officials and employees at Paikpara in Mirpur with Tk 1,088.46 crore, construction of multistory residential buildings for the judges, (1st Revised), with Tk 129.41 crore, Irrigation Management Improvement Project (IMIP) (For Muhuri Irrigation Project), 2nd revised with Tk 580.14 crore and Reforestation and infrastructure development at Sylhet Forests Department to face the adverse impacts of climate change with Tk 70.04 crore.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
