Ecnec approves project for new transmission line

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved Dhaka and western regional gridline transmission system expansion project with an estimated cost of Tk5949.95 crore on Tuesday.

The project will help the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB) to strengthen the power transmission system in 17 western districts of the country including Dhaka.

To implement the project, the government will provide Tk1415.95 crore, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will provide Tk4214.30 crore as loan and the remaining Tk321.69 crore will come from PGCB's fund.

"The new transmission project will strengthen the infrastructural capacity of Dhaka and several districts of western, northern and southern areas of the country. It will help to meet the commercial need for electricity as well as household demands," said Planning Minister MA Mannan.

The project is scheduled to be completed within June 2024.

Minister MA Mannan presented details about the projects approved by Ecnec in a media briefing after the meeting.

He said, "The Ecnec approved six projects today with a total cost of Tk7312.55 crore. The government will provide Tk2778.56 crore, implementing agency will provide Tk321 crore and Tk4121.30 crore will be collected from foreign sources."

The other five projects approved are the up-gradation of Palbari-Doratana-Murali highway, up-gradation of Bogura-Sariakandi highway and building bridge over the Bengali River, renovation of Magura-Narail highway, renovation of Feni-Alokdia-Valukia-Laskarhat-Chhagalnaia highway and establishing link road from Natore to Rajshahi bypass.

The minister said a book has been unveiled titled "Prime Ministers Instructions in Ecnec Meetings from 2009 to 2019" at today's meeting.

"We have built a lot of roads. Now it is time for maintenance. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to plant trees beside the roads to protect them from natural disasters. The trees will also help people to take shelter from sunlight and rain," he added.