The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday approved a total of nine projects, including Tk 712.63-crore one to install smart prepayment electricity meters in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.

The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Ecnec chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city.

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“Today nine projects, including two revised ones, were approved. The overall estimated cost against the projects is Tk 2,665.21 crore (only additional costs of the revised projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan at a press briefing after the meeting.

The project titled “Installation of Smart Prepayment Meters in NESCO areas in Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions” will be implemented by June, 2024 in a bid to enhance revenue collection and reduce system loss of electricity there.

The Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) Limited will implement the project to install some 12 lakh smart prepayment meters – 11,13,608 single phase ones and 86,392 three phase ones— in 33 upazilas and two city corporations in 14 districts under the two divisions.

The six other fresh projects include "Vision 2041: Small Savings Inclusion for Poverty Alleviation" with the estimated cost of Tk 149 crore; "Infrastructure Development of Pirganj, Haragachh and Badarganj Municipalities under Rangpur District" with Tk 87.60 crore; "Darul Arkam Ibtedaye Madrasa Establishment and Management" with Tk 199.06 crore, “50 BG and 50 MG Passenger Carriage Rehabilitation for Bangladesh Railway Western Region” with Tk 138.47 crore.

Besides, "South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Integrated Trade Facilitation Sector Development Project: Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) Part" with Tk 217 crore; and "South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Integrated Trade Facilitation Sector Development Project: National Board of Revenue Part" with Tk 313 crore.

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The two revised projects are "Construction of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway (1st revised)" project with the rise of cost to Tk 17,553.04 crore from Tk 16,901.32 crore; "BNS Sher-e-Bangla Patuakhali Establishment (1st revised)" project with the rise of cost to Tk 1278.23 crore from Tk 1081.50 crore.