Four projects to assist neighbouring transits, business hubs get nod
The government yesterday approved four projects costing Tk 9,454 crore for facilitating transit of goods from India, Bhutan and Nepal, establishing internal business hubs and attracting foreign investment.
The projects were given the go-ahead at yesterday's meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), which was chaired by Primary Minister Sheikh Hasina.
One of the jobs is on boosting the Mongla port's ability at a price of Tk 6,015 crore. Of the sum, India would present Tk 4,459 crore as loan.
After the meeting, Arranging Minister MA Mannan told journalists that these were encouraging the three neighbouring countries to avail transit facilities through the Mongla port.
The transit facility has already been being provided for a few goods and the volume will increase in future, he said.
As per the project proposal, plenty of activities are occurring in the country's southwest: a good Dhaka-Mawa-Mogla highway has been converted into a four-lane, an airport is being built-in Khulna, a coal-based power plant found in Rampal and special economic zones and a great export processing zone found in Mongla.
Most of these will end up being completed by 2021, that the Mongla port has to be modernised and potential enhanced through the addition of container terminals and handling and delivery yards, it said.
The second project is on modernising the river port of Paturia-Daulatdia at a price of Tk 1,351 crore.
After the Padma bridge is complete, the river interface would solely be utilized to move large volumes of things as the movements of people would happen over the bridge.
This would transform the area into a business hub, said the project proposal.
Moreover, goods found in transit to the three neighbouring countries would go through the port. So that you can facilitate such actions, high-rise terminal structures alongside terminals will be made and the riverbed dredged.
The 3rd project involves turning into four-lane a road connecting Anwara upazila of Chattogram to the approach road of the under-construction Karnaphuli tunnel. This might take up Tk 407 crore.
The look minister's proposal says a Chinese monetary zone was being built-in Anwara alongside a fertiliser factory. This highway would come with their aid, facilitating smoother connection with the Chattogram slot and that of Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar.
A 28.54-kilometre road coming down from the Padma bridge to Jazira and Shariatpur would be converted to four-lane at a cost of Tk 1,682 crore.
Of it, two kilometres will be new, establishing direct connection between Dhaka and Shariatpur.
Planning ministry officials stated this road project could help agricultural produce of Shariatpur and adjoining areas reach Dhaka.
Including the several, a complete of nine projects worth Tk 13,639 crore were exceeded in the Ecnec getting together with.
