The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared six development projects, including a Tk 3,586-crore one to upgrade Sylhet-Tamabil Highway into a four-lane one.
The upgradation of the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway is aimed at establishing sub-regional connectivity through Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil corridor alongside contributing to the improvement of socioeconomic condition of the people living in the north-eastern region.
The approval came from the 7th Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year, held using a digital platform with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Prime Minister Sheilkh Hasina, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and Planning Minister MA Mannan joined the meeting from Ganobhaban through a videoconference, while other Ecnec members were connected from NEC Bhaban.
“The meeting approved six projects of five ministries, including four revised ones. The total estimated cost of the projects is Tk 6628.99 crore (only additional cost of the revised projects was counted here),” said MA Mannan at a press briefing.
Of the total cost, Tk 2,071.10 crore will come from the state coffer, while Tk 4,593.89 crore from foreign sources as loan, he said.
Talking about the ‘Upgrading Sylhet-Tamabil Highway into 4-Lane with Separate SMVT Lanes’ Project, the minister said the highway will be upgraded with slow-moving vehicular traffic (SMVT) lanes, which will also be a cross-border road.
“We hope it’ll open the connectivity with the East — Assam (India), Bhutan, Nepal, China and Myanmar,” he said.
The highway project will be implemented by June 2025 at a cost of Tk 3,586.05 crore. Of the cost, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is providing Tk 2,970.56 crore, said Mannan.
The main objectives of the highway project are to establish sub-regional connectivity through Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil, develop communication with land port, economic zone and export-processing zone, create scopes for the development of tourism and contribute to improving the socioeconomic status of the people living there, according to the project factsheet.UNB
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