Dhaka:The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the Rampal solar power plant and 12 other development projects with a total budget of Tk 16,207.55 crore.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the approved projects include 10 new schemes, two revised projects, and an extension of one project period. Funding for these initiatives will come from various sources: Tk 10,600.80 crore from the government's own funds, Tk 4,081.85 crore as project loans, and Tk 1,524.91 crore from the funds of the concerned organizations.
Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting at the Secretariat. Among the approved projects, seven are under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. These involve improvements in road infrastructure and drainage systems in Dhaka South City Corporation, Rangpur City Corporation, and Gazipur City Corporation.
The ECNEC meeting also approved a project for a 442MW peak solar power plant at Rampal under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Additional projects include developing women's skills and creating entrepreneurs through cooperatives, rural infrastructure development in Sirajganj, Bogura, and Naogaon, and the second phase of the Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project.
A project under the Ministry of Shipping was approved for the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), involving the procurement of commercial and auxiliary vessels and the construction of new slipways. The expansion of Bangladesh Railway's capacity by procuring locomotives was also approved.
Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry's project for renovating the chancery building in Paris received the green light. Two projects under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry were approved, including the construction of the Second Karatoya Bridge and the second revised Thanchi-Rumaikri-Madak-Likri road construction project.
ECNEC was also informed of a project costing less than Tk 50 crore, previously approved by the Planning Minister, for re-excavating rivers and canals in the Joypurhat district.