The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved the ‘Procurement of 200 MG passenger coaches for Bangladesh Railway’ project involving Tk 927.52 crore, aiming to provide modern, safe and improved services to commuters.The approval came from the 9th Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year 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 reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of eight projects were approved today with an estimated cost of Tk 3,488.20 crore.”Of the total project cost, Tk 1,440.35 crore will come from the national exchequer, Tk 20.14 crore from the organisation’s own fund while the rest of Tk 2,027.71 crore as project assistance,” he said.
Of the approved eight projects, six are new while two are revised ones.The Planning Minister said Bangladesh Railway under the Ministry of Railways will implement the Procurement of 200 MG Passenger Coaches project by June 2020.Of the total project cost of Tk 927.52 crore, the government will provide Tk 214 crore while the rest of Tk 713.52 crore will come as project assistance from the Chinese government, he said.Under the project, 200 passenger coaches — 28 MG stainless steel air conditioned sleeper coaches, 35 MG stainless steel air conditioned chair cars, 96 MG stainless steel Shovan carriages, 26 MG stainless steel Shovan carriages with pantry and guard brakes, 15 MG stainless steel composite power cars — will be procured.The main objectives of the project is to ensure modern, safe and improved journey of passengers replacing old passenger coaches, meeting the demand of passenger coaches, introducing new trains to meet the demand of commuters, and thus boost Bangladesh Railway’s revenue.The Ecnec meeting also approved a project titled ‘Upgrading Shyamganj-Jaria-Birishiri-Durgapur District Highway into National Highway’ at an estimated cost of Tk 316.02 crore.The Roads and Highways Department under the Ministry of Roads and Highways Division will implement the project to be implemented in Durgapur and Purbadhala upazilas.Once the project is implemented, the Planning Minister said, it will be possible to transport the agri and natural products to different parts of the country safely and easily.He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting asked the authorities concerned to take steps for conducting dredging to maintain the navigability of the Someswari River in Netrakona.The Ecnec meeting also gave nod to the Establishment of Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital at an estimated cost of Tk 584.46 crore with funds from Indian fresh Line of Credit (LoC). Of the total project cost, Tk 316.38 crore will come from the state coffer and Tk 268.08 crore from the LoC.The Department of Health under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will implement the project by June 2020.Under the project, a five-storey hospital building will be built having 10-storey foundation, constructing five-storey academic building having eight-storey foundation, constructing hostel building for the students, constructing residential building for the physicians, teachers, and officials and employees.The Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting suggested the authorities concerned to set up a medical college and hospital and a university in Sunamganj.She also suggested constructing high-rise staff quarters in the capital’s Azimpur area in the future incorporating walkways and children’s parks.The other projects approved at the meeting are Rural Electrification Upgradation Project (Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, and Barisal Division), 3rd revised, with Tk 1,399.83 crore, construction of residential building for judiciary officials in city’s Azimpur area with Tk 96.22 crore, Sureshwar canal re-excavation and drainage with Tk 59.06 crore, Protection of left embankment of Teesta River at Bhurungamari and Ulipur upazilas of Kurigram district, 2nd revised, with Tk 54.80 crore and Development and Expansion of Proyash at Dhaka Cantonment (2nd phase) with Tk 50.29 crore.Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting. Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.
source:UNB
