Ecnec clears three LoC funded projects

The approval came at the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The three Indian LoC projects include establishment of Jamalpur Medical College and Hospital and Jamalpur Nursing College and Procurement of double-decker, single-decker AC and non-AC buses and trucks for BRTC. Of the total approved project costs, Tk1,932.28 crore will come from the public coffer and the rest Tk872.72 crore from LoC. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said Ecnec approved five projects including the procurement of 600 single and double-decker buses and 500 trucks at a cost of Tk2,805 crore. Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will implement the procurement by June 2018 under two projects titled – Procurement of double and single-decker AC and non-AC buses for BRTC involving Tk580.87 crore and Procurement of trucks for BRTC – at a cost of Tk217.35 crore from India for strengthening BRTC services. According to the summary of the project, the government will provide Tk146.55 crore while the rest of Tk434.32 crore will come from the LoC for the procurement of double and single-decker AC and non AC buses for BRTC. Besides, Tk58.95 crore will come from the government exchequer and Tk358.40 crore from LoC. Under the proposed project, some 300 double-decker buses will be procured alongside procuring 100 single-decker AC city buses, 100 single decker AC intercity buses and 100 single decker non-AC buses. About the procurement of 500 trucks, the planning minister said some trucks will be used as covered van to use in coastal areas. The Ecnec also approved establishment of Jamalpur medical college and Jamalpur Nursing college involving Tk716.61 crore. Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk280 crore and the rest of Tk436.61 crore will come from Indian LoC. As part of setting up medical infrastructure to reach medical services to the area of Jamalpur, the government will implement the project by 2019. The other approved projects include construction of flood control, road-cum-protection embankment and drainage system for Bangladesh Economic Zone at Mirersharai.