The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared 10 development projects, including a Tk 2,490-crore one, for the development of different roads and infrastructures of Chattogram city aiming to remove its traffic chaos and enhance its beauty.

The approval came from an Ecnec meeting presided over by Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. The ministers and officials concerned were connected from the NEC conference room in the capital.

“Ten projects, including seven revised ones, were approved in today’s meeting and the overall estimated cost of the projects is Tk 11,211.44 crore (only additional costs of revised projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Read:Turning Bangladesh into digital economy: Ecnec clears Tk 2,542 cr project

About the revision of so many projects, he said some practical problems are there in Bangladesh, which delay the implementation of those.

Describing the problems, the minister said the reasons behind the revision of projects in Bangladesh include Covid-19 pandemic, price-hike of project materials, land acquisition complexities, and delayed release of foreign funds.

Talking about the project titled “Improvement of different roads including Airport Road and Development of important infrastructures under Chattogram City Corporation,’’ MA Mannan said the project will be implemented by December 2024.

“It’s a large project since the incumbent mayor of the city was elected,” he said.

During discussions over the project, the Prime Minister praised slain Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury for his development works for the port city.

She said the city witnessed massive development during his tenures and later that pace of development could not be maintained.

According to the project factsheet provided by the Planning Ministry, its main objectives include is to remove traffic congestion and improve lifestyle of city people by improving its different roads, ensure pedestrians’ safe road-crossing by construction of foot-over bridges, and enhance the city’s beauty and uplift socio-economic condition in the port city.

The major operation of the project include improvement of 769-km roads, construction of 600-metre overpass on the Airport road, construction of 38 foot-over bridges, 14 bridges and 22 culverts.

Two other new projects are Upgrading Kumargaon-Badaghat Airport Road into 4-lane one in Sylhet Sadar Upazila, which is involved with estimated cost of Tk 727.63 crore, and Restoration of Polders 43/1 and 44B and Protection of Paira River Bank from erosion at Amtoli and Taltoli upazilas of Barguna with the cost of Tk 751.29 crore.

Read:Govt to spend Tk 4,167cr on 10 projects, Ecnec gives nod

The Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book titled ‘Bangladesh at 50’ in the meeting.

The Finance Division and the Planning Division jointly published the economic study book highlighting the current economic position of Bangladesh after 50 years of its Independence.

Appreciating the publication of the book by the two divisions, the PM asked them to publish the book also in Bengali version, said MA Mannan.